Rains ease in Vadodara, lash other parts of Gujarat

While many parts of Gujarat are receiving heavy rains from few days, Vadodara is getting back to normalcy as the water level of the Vishwamitri river started receding. Meanwhile, Gujarat CM who visited Vadodara on Friday announced compensation for the rain-affected people.

Vadodara(Gujarat): Life in rain-ravaged Vadodara is limping back to normalcy as the water level of the swollen Vishwamitri river, which flows through Gujarat, started receding on Friday.

However, other parts of the state received heavy rains, a state government release said.

Mangrol Tehsil in Surat district recorded the highest rainfall of 187 millimetres on Friday, followed by Rajkot city at 144 mm, Amreli town at 120 mm, Kaprada tehsil of Valsad district at 116 mm and Gir-Gadhda tehsil of Gir-Somnath district at 105 mm, the release said.

There was knee-deep water in several places in Rajkot city following a heavy downpour in the evening, the release added.

Vadodara witnessed nearly 500 mm of rain in 24 hours till Thursday morning, killing six persons and causing the Vishwamitri river to breach its banks.

Floodwater has subsided in some parts of the city and bridges on the river were also opened for traffic. However, many areas continue to remain inundated, officials said.

"As the water level of the Vishwamitri has started falling from Friday morning, the situation is slowly getting back to normalcy.

"However, there is water-logging in several parts of the city. We are making all efforts to improve the situation," Vadodara collector Shalini Agarwal said.

Gujarat Chief Minister(CM) Vijay Rupani and deputy CM Nitin Patel visited Vadodara on Friday.

Rupani lauded local officials as well as the people of Vadodara for showing "exceptional courage".

He announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of those who died in rain-related incidents.

Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh said that over 11,000 people were evacuated from Vadodara city and surrounding areas following heavy rains.

Over 1.6 lakh food packets were distributed in the city over the last two days, he said.

Earlier in the morning, Rupani, in a tweet, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him over the phone and assured help from the Centre.

"PM shri @narendramodi ji assured me of all the possible help and assistance from Central government to meet the relief and rehabilitation efforts," Rupani tweeted.

Talking to reporters in Rajkot on Friday, Rupani announced cash assistance for those who were evacuated to safer places.

Compensation would be paid to those who lost their household articles in the flood, he added.