Gujarat floods: Congress will reach out to those in need, says Ahmed Patel

Expressing grief over the loss of lives in the Gujarat floods, Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Thursday said that his party will extend all assistance to those in need.

"I am deeply saddened by loss of lives in Gujarat floods. I hope the government agencies extend help to the affected as lakhs of people continue to be stranded and there is no power supply in several places," Patel told the media here.

"I am in touch with the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president. We will reach out to those in need, the details will be worked out in today's meeting," he added.

Around 45 have been killed so far due to heavy rains and flood like situation which prevails in Saurashtra and south Gujarat.

Gujarat's Amreli district is the worst affected as 36 people died in the flood fury on Wednesday.

According to reports, 13 people died when two houses collapsed in Nani Vabhaniya village near Bagasara town of Amreli district, three died in Bhavnagar district, two died in Gaondal in Rajkot district and three lost their lives in Surat district due to the floods.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian Air force (IAF) have been pressed into the service for rescue and relief works in Amreli district. Additional companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) force have been sent in all flood affected areas.

Over 100 people have been airlifted in Amreli district while one thousand people have been evacuated in Surat due to flood and heavy rain fall.