The heaviest downpour of this monsoon in rain-deficit Saurashtra left large numbers of villages marooned as continuous downpour triggered flash floods and completely paralysed normal life in Rajkot and Jamnagar districts. Official sources confirmed the death of six people in both the districts in rain-related incidents.
Close to 5,000 people were shifted to safer locations in both districts as low-lying areas started getting flooded while around 100 stranded ones were rescued by teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Air Force. As many as 50 people - 35 in Jamnagar- had to be airlifted as villages turned into islands.
Car owners could only watch helplessly as turbulent waters swept away at least 12 vehicles in both cities. Boats were the only means of commuting in many areas of Rajkot and Jamanagar cities as all the major roads, lanes and underpasses were under water due to continuous downpour. In Rajkot, an NDRF team had to be flown in from Punjab and more teams have been called in as threat of floods looms due to increasing water levels in Aji-2 dam.
The highest rainfall of 448mm has been reported in Kalavad taluka between midnight on Sunday and Monday evening. This is followed by Jamnagar city with 107mm, 205mm in Dhrol and Jodiya taluka, and 139mm in Jamnagar district.
Rajkot also received 355mm rainfall as heavy rains pounded the district since midnight on Sunday. Lodhika taluka received 517mm, Dhoraji taluka 287mm, Kotda Sangani 229mm, Gondal taluka 243mm and Paddhari taluka received 193mm rainfall in the same period.
In Jamnagar district, 4,000 people had to be evacuated in Jamnagar rural, Kalavad and Jodiya talukas living in low-lying areas. Altogether 50 trapped people were rescued successfully, of whom 20 comprising villagers of Banga (Kalavad), Duleshiya (Jamnagar rural), Kunnad (Jodiya) were airlifted.
District collector of Jamnagar, P S Zamsingh said, “Two teams of NDRF and one team of SDRF have been deputed while two more teams are on their way. Jamnagar, both city and rural, and Kalavad areas are the most severely affected.” Boats have been used in Kalavad naka area of Jamnagar city which is a low-lying area. Thickly populated ares including Whora na Hazira, Bardhan chowk, Tinbatti area Limda Lane too have been inundated.
