Gandhinagar: Even as heavy rains continue to pound Banaskantha and nearby districts in north Gujarat for the last 24 hours, the state administration has been directed to take up restoration of food and water supply, electricity, roads and transport on a war-footing.

Reviewing the flood situation at a meeting of senior officers of all departments concerned here today, Revenue Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma said the rescue and relief operation be given top priority, to be followed by the survey of damage caused by heavy rains and floods.

Eleven more deaths and loss of 89 cattle heads were reported during the last 24 hours. Mr. Chudasma asked the officials to adopt scientific methods to dispose of carcasses. In all, 79 teams of the State Veterinary Department are stationed in the entire north and central Gujarat region.

Rescue teams of Armed Forces, NDRF, BSF, SRP and state government, assisted by 11 helicopters helped faster evacuation of 1,144 people stranded in the marooned areas of Kankrej, Patan, Harij and other places. North Gujarat Electricity Company is busy restoring electricity in 80-90 per cent areas of Dhanera, one of the worst affected regions.

Banaskantha, Amirgarh and Dhanera each received nearly six inches rainfall. Heavy rainfall in upstream Rajasthan continue to flood the major Sabarmati river of the region, necessitating shifting 6,019 people from the low lying areas of downstream Daskroim Bavla, Mandal, Vejalpur, Dhandhuka, Dholka and Sanand in Ahmedabad district, 2,055 people in Aravalli district, 729 in Sabarkantha district and 321 in Kheda district. Drinking water is being supplied through 100-125 tankers. A number of voluntary organization are helping the state administration is distribution of food packets. The Health Department teams are busy chlorination, etc for preventing outbreak of any diseases.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made an aerial survey of the region yesterday, Mr. Chudasma asked the officers of agriculture and all departments concerned to survey the extent of damage so that the assistance could be extended to the sufferers.

– Information