Heavy rains lash Gujarat, Army called in

The Army has been called in the flood-hit coastal town of Veraval in Junagdh district on Wednesday even as seven persons died and thousands were left homeless following incessant rains across Gujarat, officials said on Wednesday.

Heavy rains have inundated several areas in Junagadh Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Jamangar districts and authorities have shifted thousands of people to safer places and are providing them with temporary food and shelter, they said.

A MIG chopper from the Jamnagar air force base was dashed to a remote village in Jamnagar district this morning to rescue eight people who were stranded in deep flood waters since Tuesday night after a local check dam over flowed, Air Force officials said.

Normal life was thrown out of gear in Ahmedabad due to heavy rains and waterlogging in almost all localities.

Fire brigades of all municipal corporations have begun using boats for rescue operations in order to shift people living in low lying areas to safer places.

Seven persons across the state were killed since Tuesday due to various rain related incidents, officials said.

199 talukas of Gujarat have received heavy showers in the past 24 hours and all check dams in these places were flowing above the danger mark.

Rescue operations are still on in several parts of Veraval and officials have also issued warning to fishermen not to venture into the sea.