The death toll due to heavy rains earlier this week which created a flood-like situation in north Gujarat and Kutch has reached 40, including 14 deaths in the worst-affected Banaskantha district.
"As per the reports received till today, at least 40 persons have lost lives in different parts. 14 deaths were reported in Banaskantha alone, while five deaths were reported in adjoining Patan district and four in Kutch," said state relief director Bipin Bhatt.
Though the rains have stopped or let up for the last two days, many areas of north Gujarat remain inundated. The state government has deployed 16 teams of National Disaster Response Force for relief and rescue work in these areas.
As per an official release, some 1,100 people were evacuated from Banaskantha, Kutch and Patan districts in the last 96 hours. The rescue work was being carried out by using inflatable boats and deep diving sets, it said. The rescue teams also have doctors and para-medical staff who are providing free treatment and medicines. These teams have distributed around 5,000 food packets. Indian Air Force has pressed four MI-17V5 helicopters from Jamnagar into the rescue operations. Around 3.62 lakh food packets were airdropped over 101 villages in Banaskantha and Patan districts, the release stated. Minister of State for Health Shanker Chaudhary and Chief Secretary G R Aloria today conducted an aerial survey of the affected region. Later, they held a review meeting at Palanpur.
According to Aloria, around 2.5 lakh food packets were being distributed daily in the affected areas and this would continue for another four to five days. The state health department has sent 34 medical teams to the affected region with 12 mobile clinics, called 'Sanjivani Raths'. To prevent malaria outbreak, two specialist doctors and 25 health workers have been sent.
