Incessant monsoon rains in Saurashtra and south Gujarat, have claimed 45 lives and created a flood-like situation in the State. According to officials, Amreli district is the worst-hit, with 36 deaths reported on Wednesday. The Met centre in Ahmedabad on Thursday predicted moderate to heavy rains in the coming days.
“The southwest monsoon has covered the whole of Gujarat. Monsoon is active over Gujarat region and vigorous over Saurashtra,” a Met official told IANS.
The official said: “Moderate to rather heavy rain will occur at most places in Gujarat region, Saurashtra-Kutch and in Diu, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli. The weather is likely to remain the same for the next five days.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar on Thursday, urged people not to panic.
The National Disaster Response Force and the IAF have been pressed into service for rescue and relief work in Amreli district. Over 100 people were airlifted in Amreli, while about 1,000 people were evacuated in Surat.
