11 killed as heavy rains lash Gujarat

Incessant rains lashed Gujarat today, causing death of 11 persons in various rain-related incidents, affecting normal life and prompting the MeT Department to issue warning to fishermen against venturing into sea.
The downpour since yesterday disrupted normal life even as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Reserve Police (SRP) teams were dispatched to Banaskantha in North Gujarat in the view of flood-like situation.
As per the information given by the Disaster Control Room and police, of the 11 deaths due to rain-related incidents, four were reported from Banaskantha district, three each from Rajkot and Patan districts, and one was from Sabarkantha.

"At least four persons were killed in Banaskantha district when the jeep in which their were travelling was washed away in heavy flow of rain water," State Disaster Control Room official Bhavesh Varshaj said.
He said three rain-related casualties were reported from Rajkot and Patan districts each and one from Sabarkantha.
According to the official, six teams of NDRF were dispatched to Banaskantha district and deployed at Tharad, Lakhani and Dhanera talukas.

Meanwhile, three persons were killed when a tree fell on their car near Rajkot's Chotila town on Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway, said Chotila taluka police station sub inspector B H Posatar.

The deceased were identified as Asad Pathan (35), Gautam Hirpara (25) and Kanti Makwana (52).
As per the data given by the State Emergency Operation Centre, Banaskantha, which remains the worst affected district, received 318 mm rainfall since yesterday.
A team of Ahmedabad Fire brigade was also sent to Banaskantha district.
While Kutch and Patan districts each received 171 mm rainfall, Morbi district (134 mm) in Saurashtra region recorded the highest rainfall, followed by Surendranagar (67 mm), Botad (37 mm) and Rajkot (33 mm).
In Central Gujarat, good rainfall was witnessed in Ahmedabad (63 mm), Chhota Udepur (104), Anand (69 mm), Vadodara (69 mm) and Panchamahal districts today.

The Meteorological Department has issued warning to fishermen against venturing into sea for the next 24 hours.
"Due to steep pressure gradient, markedly squally weather (is) likely to prevail off North and South coast. Wind will be 35-45 kmph from Southwesterly direction (and) wind speed in gust/squall may temporarily reach 50 kmph," the MeT Department stated in the warning.
"Sea will be rough with waves from Southwesterly direction. Fishermen are advised not to go into sea during next 24 hours," it added.