AHMEDABAD, July 2: At least 124 people have died and about 25 million have been affected by heavy rains and flooding in the western Indian state of Gujarat this week, a state official said on Saturday.
Large stretches of property near rivers, tributaries and dams in the state, Which has a population of 50 million, were under water, said provincial Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel.
A damage estimate was not immediately available, but federal Home Minister Shivraj Patil announced a five billion rupee (110 million dollar) aid package for Gujarat after an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Friday.
“One hundred hours of rain in different parts of Gujarat has affected more than 70 percent of the state,” Patel said.
In all, some 4,577 villages and 31 urban centres in Gujarat were hit by power cuts as rains pounded the state non-stop for four days straight, Mr Patel said.
The 124 victims — including both adults and children — died as they were washed away by strong currents after dams overflowed, while others were crushed when portions of buildings collapsed or were buried in mudslides, officials said.
Mr Patel said around 425,000 people have been evacuated because of heavy rains and flash floods in the state.
“Large-scale flooding has taken place. In the next two days they are going to provide relief through helicopters,” minister Patil said.
Twelve Indian Air Force helicopters have been kept for relief work at the Ahmedabad airport, the only functional airport in the state.
The situation is likely to worsen with more rain forecast, federal Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters in New Delhi.
“We have to be prepared for the worst floods. Only after July 4 or 5 will there be a substantial fall in rainfall.”
Train services were delayed as the floods damaged rail tracks while some had to be cancelled, marooning hundreds of passengers on railway platforms.
Shailendra Kumar, chief public relations officer for India’s western railway, said about 400 passengers on a train stranded for almost 36 hours near Dakor, 100 kilometres from the commercial capital Ahmedabad, managed to reach makeshift shelter camps after wading through several feet of water.
AHMEDABAD, July 2: At least 124 people have died and about 25 million have been affected by heavy rains and flooding in the western Indian state of Gujarat this week, a state official said on Saturday.
