Heavy rains in Gujarat claim 65 lives, leave thousands stranded

According to a government officer who requested obscurity, 14,552 people had been rehabilitated due to heavy rains as of 4 pm on Friday.

Death Toll and Incidents

Heavy monsoon rains have claimed the lives of 65 people and left thousands stranded across various parts of Gujarat since the onset of the monsoon on June 15.

An official from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that the death toll reached 65 as of the latest updates. Over July 24-25 alone, 12 deaths were attributed to lightning strikes, drowning incidents, and house collapses.

Recent Fatalities

On Thursday, three individuals lost their lives due to the heavy rains. In the preceding two days, nine fatalities were reported across different districts:

• Devbhumi Dwarka: 3 deaths, including three women from the same family who perished when a three-story building collapsed.
• Banaskantha: 2 deaths
• Kutch: 2 deaths
• Rajkot: 1 death
• Surat: 1 death

Rescue and Rehabilitation Efforts

According to a government official who wished to remain anonymous, a total of 14,552 people had been rehabilitated by 4 pm on Friday. Efforts are ongoing to assist those affected by the severe weather conditions.

Weather Forecast and Alerts

The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, including Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Panchmahal, Dohad, Vadodara, Chotta Udepur, Narmada, Baruch, Dang, and Tapi on Saturday.

An orange alert has also been issued for heavy to very heavy rainfall in eight districts of Maharashtra on the same day, indicating the potential for further severe weather and the need for preparedness and caution.