AHMEDABAD, July 3: Relief teams on Sunday rushed food, water, medicines and other essentials to hundreds of thousands marooned by floods that have killed 132 people in India’s Gujarat state.
The rescue and relief effort gathered pace during a lull in heavy rains. But the weather office predicted a new downpour in the next two days in the western state where 25 million people have been affected by the floods.
The new death toll, given in a statement by state revenue minister Kaushik Patel, covers almost a week of heavy rains that swelled rivers and dams. Many victims were washed away while others were crushed when portions of buildings collapsed or were buried in mudslides.
A downpour which had lasted more than 100 hours ceased on Sunday in the badly-hit cities of Ahmedabad and Baroda.
At least 11 air force helicopters were dropping food and water, blankets and tents to flood-hit residents, the statement said.
“Relief, restoration and rehabilitation work is under full swing,” said Gujarat law minister Ashok Bhatt, although most roads were still submerged and traffic across the state was disrupted.
The army said it had rescued up to 4,500 people.
About 500 medical teams were on standby to travel to flood-affected areas as soon as the waters recede and help prevent an outbreak of disease, said Gujarat Health Commissioner Amarjeet Singh.
“All precautions are being taken to ensure that there is no outbreak of diseases.”—AFP
