2,200 people evacuated from rain-hit Gujarat... and there are still more to save

Torrential rains have caused floods in Gujarat, forcing the evacuation of over 2,200 people. The state has been put on high alert and the military was called in on Monday to help in relief and rescue operations.

Army and air force contingents have been rushed in to assist in relief and rescue operations. Four MI-17V5 helicopters were conducting sorties from Jamnagar.

Incessant rain has thrown normal life out of gear in several areas of the state.

Torrential rains pounding north Gujarat have caused flood in Banaskantha and Patan districts, prompting authorities to declare a state-wide “high alert” and call out Army, Air Force and National Disaster Response Force teams for assistance.

About 2,200 people have been shifted to safer places and 460 maroon people rescued, officials said.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who reviewed the situation with top officials, said the problem has been compounded by heavy rains in neighbouring Rajasthan which led to surge in water levels of rivers and dams in Gujarat.

Video footages showed even large vehicles like trucks stuck in flood water which entered several homes in the two districts.

Banaskantha and Patan districts are hugely affected due to heavy rains in north Gujarat and Rajasthan. Dantiwada and Sipu dams are overflowing, and due to the release of water from the dams, people living in low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places, he said.

One column of the army, roughly about 100 personnel, has been rushed to the flood-hit areas from Dhrangdhara to assist the National Disaster Response Force in evacuating people and reaching relief to them.

Three Air Force helicopters have been kept ready in Deesa town in Banaskantha to provide help if the situation worsened.