Cyclonic winds and rains in Gujarat claims 12 people

As many as 12 persons have died after cyclonic winds with rain and thunderstorm lashed
South Gujarat and Saurashtra regions of the state in the last 24 hours, state control room officials said here today. These deaths have occurred in the last 24 hours due to wall collapse, falling of tree and being hit by lightning, they said.

Four persons including a woman and her two children died after being buried under a compound wall which collapsed following rain and strong winds in Taragdi village on the outskirts of Rajkot city yesterday.
     
The incident took place in Taragdi village where the compound wall of Laxmanbhai Bachubahi's farm collapsed on four persons including two children. All four died on the spot. Lightning claimed five lives in state, two each in Vadodara and Bharuch, and one in Tapi district, officials said.
       
Three persons including two children died, after a tree fell on their car near Vanthali town in Jundagadh district, they said. The incident took place on the Vanthali-Junagadh road when five persons traveling in a car stopped on the roadside to avoid driving against strong winds. A tree fell on the car killing three persons on the spot.

Meanwhile, the weather department has predicted heavy rains at isolated places over Gujarat region, Union territory- Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli during the next 24 hours.     According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), monsoon was vigorous over Gujarat region in the past 24 hours and cyclonic circulation over South Gujarat and adjoining areas still persisted.
       
They have predicted moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers at many places in South Gujarat and North Gujarat regions. While, light to moderate rains are likely to occur at few places in Saurashtra and Kutch region, they said.
      
According to State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Dang district received the highest rainfall of 122 mm in the last 24 hours, while Surat district recorded 103 mm, Valsad 62 mm, Navsari 64 mm and Narmada 67 mm. As many as 104 talukas of the state recorded light to moderate rainfall in the last 24 hours, they said. So far state has received nearly 74 per cent of average rainfall recorded in the last 10 years, they added.