Gujarat: Heavy rains leave hundreds affected in Chhota Udepur, Panchmahal

VADODARA: Hundreds of residents were marooned in the rural areas of central Gujarat as the heavy rains lashed the region on Sunday.
Chhota Udepur district received the heaviest rains throwing the normal life out of gear. Such was the fury of the rainwaters that the approach road to the bridge over Kalidholi river on Pavijetur-Bodeli Road got washed away.
The weather department has issued an alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall in central Gujarat over the next two days.
Those staying in low-lying areas near the river have been warned to stay away from the river bank
The district administration said that efforts are on to rescue people who are stuck in remote areas. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to rescue people in Bodeli town.
According to the weather department, Bodeli received 16 inches of rain on Sunday while Pavi Jetpur got 10 inches of rain.
The highways leading to Chhota Udepur too were submerged in the waters affecting the normal traffic flow. The region has been receiving rains over the last three days. Heavy rain lashed Jambughoda taluka in Panchmahal district on Sunday leaving the low-lying areas water-logged. The region got 10 inches of rain within eight hours.
Hundreds of tourists, who were on a visit to the popular Jhand Hanuman Temple in Jambugoda got struck for a couple of hours. Water level swelled in Sukhi River in the taluka and flooded houses of those staying nearby. It poured heavily in Narmada district as well on Sunday.
The district administration said that Dediapada and Sagbara talukas received very heavy showers and the region has already received 25 per cent of its seasonal rain. Four gates of Karjan dam were opened on Sunday due to heavy inflow of water and over 20,000 cusecs of water was released. .
Train service between Pratapnagar in Vadodara and Chhota Udepur district got disrupted due to heavy rains on Sunday. The track between Bodeli and Pavi Jetpur got washed out on the Pratapnagar-Chhota Udepur section following heavy rains in the region.
According to officials of Vadodara railway division, train number 09169 Pratapnagar-Chhota Udepur passenger and train number 09170 Chhota Udepur-Pratapnagar passenger were cancelled after the track got washed out.
“Our teams distributed food packets and water bottles at Pavi to around 50 passengers,” said a railway official.