Since Friday evening, incessant rains in some districts of Saurashthra and Surendranagar in Gujarat have been wreaking havoc that has left hundreds stranded.

It was reported that the Chotila town in Surendranagar recorded the highest rainfall of 350 mm, while Vadia in Amreli district received over 250 mm rainfall.

Three persons died after being swept away by water at Jasdan taluka in Rajkot, Lathi in Amreli, and Junagadh, a state emergency operations centre official told the media.

NDRF and Air Force to the rescue

Such is the situation that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Air Force has been deployed for rescue operations.

While 214 stranded people have been rescued, close to 7000 people in the region have been relocated to safer areas so far.

A two-storey building in Hathikhana area collapsed but no causalities were reported, as per Rajkot Municipal Corporation Commissioner B N Pani.

Chief Minister Rupani reviewed flood-effected areas 

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held a review meeting on Saturday with government officials to take stock of the situation.

He also conducted an aerial survey on Sunday of the disaster-hit regions and instructed officials to take necessary steps.

“Surendranagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Amreli, Junagadh, Gir Somnath districts in Saurashtra region have received heavy rains in the last 24 hours. Ahmedabad and other parts of North Gujarat till Mandal are witnessing heavy rains since this morning,” he informed reporters.

On Sunday he asked the administration to extend all support to the people as heavy rains are expected till July 29.

More than 50% rainfall reported, several dams overflow

The Hindu on Sunday reported that the city already received more than 50% of its annual rainfall.

“Most dams and reservoirs in the Saurashtra region are overflowing or are about to overflow, which means there will be no drinking water crisis for the next year,” an official was quoted as saying by the report.

On Monday morning the Indian Air Force safely evacuated a woman and her newborn twins from the flooded Nana Matra village in Vinchia tehsil of Rajkot district of Gujarat. Another pregnant woman was also rescued from the same village.

A Chetak helicopter was sent immediately after a the message urging evacuation of the women in ‘critical condition’ was received around 4:30 pm. 

Bus and Transport services hit 

India today reported that the State transport authorities have temporarily discontinued bus services on 17 routes owing to water logging. 

Also, close to 10 highways and 65 roads have been reported damaged while high alert have been issued in the districts as several dams are expected to overflow.  

However, several schools were reported to have re-opened on Monday morning despite heavy rains.  

“Some people are sending their children to school even though the streets are still flooded with 1.5 feet of water, but children from rural areas cannot come because they are completely cut off from the town,” Natu Parmar, a social activist from Surendranagar was quoted as saying by Scroll.in.