Heavy rain continues to batter Gujarat; 43 dead since July 7

SURAT//VADODARA/AHMEDABAD: Flood situation remained grim in south Gujarat on Thursday as heavy rain continued to pound Navsari and other districts while Ahmedabad-Mumbai highway was closed for traffic due to severe waterlogging near Chikhli.
Rivers like Purna and Ambika were flowing menacingly due to continuous downpour, leaving most areas of Navsari and Bilimora towns in knee-deep waters. Besides Navsari, Valsad, Vadodara and Tapi districts were also reeling from the rain onslaught for the fourth consecutive day.
Official sources said that 43 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state since July 7. In Ahmedabad, two women labourers and a 16-year-old girl died after the boundary wall of a farm house collapsed on their temporary shed.
Rescue operations were mounted by various agencies including NDRF, SDRF and fire brigade in Navsari, Tapi and Vadodara districts.
Hectic rescue operations were mounted by various agencies including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), SDRF and fire brigade in Navsari, Tapi and Vadodara districts. At least 100 people were rescued by teams of NDRF and Indian Coast Guard as they were trapped in flood waters in Navsari.
The NDRF team rescued about 63 people including two pregnant women and 29 children from Kandari village of Karjan that was flooded. The team also rescued 150 people in Shambhoi village who were stranded as Dhadhar river water swelled within hours.
In Dolvan taluka of Tapi, fire brigade rescued 10 people stranded in a village.
Gujarat has already received 51% of its average annual rainfall within a month of monsoon onset. The stretch of national highway-48 between Bharuch and Vapi was badly damaged while that between Chilkhi and Valsad was flooded, forcing the authorities to halt the traffic movement.
State revenue minister Rajendra Trivedi said 39,177 people have been shifted to safer locations while 21,200 are staying in shelter homes.