Gandhinagar

Amid the feared large scale damage to life and property during the recent spell of Monsoon rain which has seen over 40 inches of downpour in less than 48 hours in several areas of North Gujarat, Chief Secretary G R Aloria today said that the actual figure of deaths and damage can only be accessed only after the water in the rain-ravaged areas recede.

Unofficial figures put the death toll to 25.

Mr. Aloria said we have reports of 10 casualties from Banaskantha district so far which was the worst affected. ‘Currently our priority is the rescue operation which was being conducted in co-ordination with the central government. Apart from NDRF teams we have also deployed choppers of the Indian Air Force, the army and para military forces have also been involved. Many places have lost contact owing to heavy water logging around it. The NDRF teams were ready for the operations but facing difficulty in reaching there. So far as the death and damage figures are concerned, we can only provide the accurate figure after the rain stops and water recedes from the areas,’ the chief secretary said.

‘Currently the situation in Kutch has been controlled a good deal but the situation in Banaskantha and adjoining areas was grim. We are also preparing food and water packets for the victims,’ he said adding the state machinery was keeping a close watch on the situation and the in-charge secretaries have been asked to remain in the affected districts.

During the incessant rain reportedly around 25 people have been killed in various related incidents. Life has been completely disrupted in Banskantha and Patan districts while people of Kutch were also facing woes caused by heavy downpour.

In last 24 hours 233 talukas of all the 33 districts have experienced rain with maximum of 495 mm in Deesa of Banaskantha district.

DeshGujarat