Heavy rains batter parts of Saurashtra, south Guj for 3rd day

Normal life was paralysed in parts of Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions as heavy rains continued to lash for the third consecutive day today, which caused major water-logging and damaged rail tracks at a few points that led to cancellation of several trains, officials said.

In Saurashtra, districts like Devbhumi Dwarka, Junagadh, Porbandar and Gir Somnath witnessed heavy rainfall, while Navsari and Dang districts in south Gujarat received considerable downpour in the last 24 hours till 7 am.

As per the data released by the Gujarat government, Khambhalia taluka in Devbhumi Dwarka received as much as 412 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Khambhalia was followed by Manavadar taluka in Junagadh (283 mm), Vansda in Navsari (245 mm), Waghai in Dang (214 mm), Mangrol in Junagadh (210 mm), Porbandar taluka in Porbandar (197 mm), Ranavav in Porbandar (194 mm) and Maliya taluka in Junagadh district (191 mm).

Around 15 villages across the affected regions were marooned as a result of the incessant downpour. Educational institutions in these regions remained closed.

In order to enable the elected representatives and ministers to oversee the rescue and relief work in their respective regions, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani cancelled the weekly Cabinet meeting scheduled today.

Rupani had yesterday visited Gir Somnath district, which is one of the worst affected districts in Saurashtra region.

Ministers Kunvarji Bavaliya and Jayesh Radadiya have been camping in Gir Somnath and Junagadh districts respectively to take stock of the situation and supervise the rescue work.

Radadiya held a meeting with the district officials in Junagadh.

Talking to reporters, he said around 200 stranded people were shifted to safer places.

Bavaliya visited the control room in Gir Somnath district to take stock of the situation. He is scheduled to visit some affected villages in the district later in the day.

The movement of trains was affected due to heavy rains and subsequent breaches in rail tracks at Kanasur village in Rajkot division.

"Movement of over half a dozen trains has been affected due to heavy rains and subsequent breaches in rail tracks," a senior official of Rajkot division said, adding that the Western Railway had to deploy buses to ferry the passengers of those trains that were short-terminated.

"Okha-Rameshwaram Express train had to be short-terminated at Modpur and its further journey stands cancelled," the official said in a statement.

Similarly, Saurashtra Mail, which runs between Okha and Mumbai, was short-terminated at Khambhaliya. Okha-Puri train was also cancelled today, the statement added.

Divisional Railway Manager P B Ninawe rushed to Kanasur, where flood waters washed away the soil under the tracks.