26 dead as rains wreck havoc in Gujarat, Odisha and Rajasthan

At least 26 people lost their lives as flood-like situation continued in various parts of Odisha and Gujarat, where Army and NDRF teams were called for relief operations, and some districts of Rajasthan also stared at a similar crisis.

Flood-like situation prevailed in parts of Gujarat due to incessant rains, with Banaskantha in the north emerging as the worst-affected district. Army as well as NDRF teams and IAF helicopters were roped in for relief and rescue operations in the state, where at least 22 people have died in rain-related incidents. Nearly 300 NDRF personnel and three helicopters have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in Gujarat where incessant rains have claimed 22 lives.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to assess the flood situation in the state on Wednesday.

Heavy downpour since the last two days, triggered by deep depression over north Gujarat and Kutch regions, has thrown life out of gear. Torrential rains have caused flood-like situation in Banaskantha, where 2,500 people have been evacuated to safer places.

"A team of Army from Dhranghdhra base in Surendranagar district in Gujarat and four teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Pune were sent to Banaskantha district today, which is worst affected," state disaster control room officer T B Patel told PTI.

Besides, two Indian Air Force helicopters were also roped in for rescue operations in the district, he added. Chief Minister Anandi Patel is touring Mehsana to take stock of the situation.

Union Minister of State for Home Haribhai Chaudhary said the Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation in Gujarat and will provide all the necessary help to the state for relief and rescue work.

In Odisha, flood situation in northen parts became grim as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked officials to evacute people to safe places and send ODRAF personnel to affected areas for rescue operation.

Reviewing the flood situation, Patnaik asked the officials to remain alert round the clock as the Subarnarekha river is swelling, said water resources secretary P K Jena, who attended the meeting. The water level of the Subarnarekha river has crossed the danger level at many places, Jena said adding the situation has become grim as the authorities of Galudihi dam in Jharkhand released about 1.9 lakh cusec of water last night.

In Rajasthan's Jalore district, four persons were killed in rains-related incidents. Flood-like situation continued for the third day today in parts of Sirohi district following the torrential rains, officials said. Meanwhile, traffic was halted on the Mount-Abu and Abu-Road in Sirohi district in the wake of the landslides triggered by heavy rains, a senior traffic official said.

Only medical emergency vehicles were allowed to pass under keen observation of traffic moderators from Mount Abu to Abu-Road, the official told PTI on phone. Tourists were advised to stay on the hill station of Mount Abu till the rains abate, he said.

Though there was a unit of Army and CRPF stationed in Mount Abu but they could not be called in due to due to blockade on roads, he said.

Seven trains running on the Samdari-Bhilwari route were cancelled today again by North-West Railways (NWR), while one train (Dadar-Bikaner) has been diverted following damages to the rail tracks due to incessant rains at Jalore-Sirohi route here, its chief public relation officer Tarun Jain said.