8 more perish as Gujarat flood toll touches 273

The death toll in the current monsoon in Gujarat has mounted to 273 with eight more deaths reported from Bulsar (3), Baroda (2), Sabarkantha (2) and Kheda (1) districts during the last 48 hours.

Official sources said that two gates of the Shipu dam in Banaskantha district in north Gujarat were opened on Wednesday morning following incessant rain in its catchment area.

Meanwhile, the turbulent Narmada, which has been flowing above the red mark at the Golden Bridge near Bharuch in south Gujarat for the last two days, is receding now. At 0800 hours on Wednesday, the river was flowing at 7.30 metres against the danger level of 7.32 metres.

Authorities have opened 45 camps in Bharuch, Kheda, Baroda and Bulsar districts where about 13,500 were given shelter.

UNI