Northern Gujarat, Manipur badly hit
Incessant rain and flood has disrupted normal life in many parts of country as many areas have been submerged. Gujarat, Manipur and West Bengal are worst hit states.
In Gujarat, death toll due to heavy rain in northern part of the state has risen to 53. State emergency control room officials said 28 deaths have occurred in the worst-affected Banaskantha district. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and assured her of central help. A total 14 teams comprising 592 jawans of different agencies including National Disaster Response Force, Border Security Force, State Reserve Police and 5 Air Force helicopters have been pressed into service for relief and rescue work. Around 3,000 persons have been rescued so far.
Union Minister of State for Home Haribhai Chaudhari has said that centre will provide all necessary assistance to help the flood affected people in north Gujarat. After reviewing the flood situation in worst affected areas of North Gujarat, Mr. Chaudhari said that State Government is taking all necessary steps and centre will give all possible help to restore normalcy in the worst affected areas.
After meeting with senior officers of government and district administration at Palanpur last evening, State Home Minister Mr.Chaudhari will be visiting worst affected villages of Banaskantha today.
Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has announced various relief measures for the flood affected people. As per central government’s calamity relief fund scheme, each affected family gets Rs. 3,800, but state government has decided to add additional Rs. 3,200 from its own fund. Thus each affected family will get Government assistance of Rs 7,000 for their household needs. Similarly, Rs.40,000 will be paid per death of each milk producing cattle-instead of set norms of Rs.30,000. State Government will also give assistance for the deaths of other cattle like goat, bullock, horse etc.
In Manipur, 20 people were killed in a landslide triggered by heavy rain at Zoumoal village in Chandel district. Police said, Incessant rain during the past few days triggered massive landslide leading to collapse of almost all houses in the Zoumoal village in Khengjoi Sub-Division yesterday. Relief and rescue works are being carried out by Assam Rifles and villagers.
Due to incessant rains during the last one week, the entire valley areas including the capital city Imphal covering four districts have been flooded while most of the five hill districts have been badly affected.
A preliminary report said all the 20 villagers of Joumol were buried alive and about 12 houses were swept away by a massive landslide, yesterday. So far rescue workers were able to recover bodies of only about ten victims. The village has only 21 households with a population of only 100 villagers. Rescue works were hampered as the only road leading to the village has been flooded and all the bridges have been washed away.
There were also reports of large numbers of houses being swept away by flood and landslide in Khengjoy division. Water levels of Imphal, Iril, Nambul and other rivers were continuing to flow at flood level and if rainfall continues during the next few days the water levels may increase to dangerous levels. Chief Minister O Ibobi has also instructed immediate rescue and relief works.
Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the overall flood situation has marginally improved following stopping of rain for the last few days. 12 South Bengal Districts have been affected in the current spell of floods. Over 18 lakh 39 thousand people have been marooned by the deluge. Though vast areas of various South Bengal Districts are still reeling under water. The water level of major rivers are also flowing above the danger level.
Chief Minster Mamata Banerjee yesterday visited the flood hit Udaynarayanpur in Howrah District to take stock of the situation.
Moreover normal life was also disrupted in several parts of Himachal Pradesh yesterday as heavy rains triggered landslides and disrupted vehicular traffic. Link roads in interiors were blocked at numerous places and vehicular traffic was suspended on about 100 roads including 26 roads in Rampur and Kinnaur areas, 39 roads in Sirmaur, 5 in Rohroo and Dodra-Kwar, 19 in Mandi, 15 in Dalhousie and one in Palampur. However, no national highway was closed and PWD engineers claimed that 80 per cent roads would be opened by today.
The local Met office has predicted rains and thunder storm at many places in the state over next six days and warned of heavy rains at isolated places in mid and lower hills today.