The meteorological department also forecast “extremely heavy isolated showers” in Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Valsad districts in the next 24 hours.
Two national highways, 10 state highways and 300 rural roads were closed in the state on Saturday due to flooding, and traffic could resume Sunday only in places where the water has receded. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Prime Minister Bhupendra Patel about the situation.
02:13
Gujarat floods: LPG chute flooded at Navsari, large number of cylinders washed away, video goes viral
Several Rajkot villages were put on alert when three large dams in the district burst their banks on Sunday. While the Aji-1 and Nyari-1 dams began to overflow, eight of the 29 channels of the Bhadar-1 dam in Jetpur opened when the water reached the ‘regulation level’ of 32 feet on Sunday. Authorities alerted 22 villages on the downstream bank of the Aji River. The river, which runs through the city of Rajkot, is overflowing.
Meanwhile, floodwaters receded in the rain-ravaged Junagadh district on Sunday and the focus shifted to restoring normalcy and clearing mud from roads and streets. Authorities said nearly 3,000 people have been moved to safer locations since the onslaught of rain. Junagadh city recorded 241mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 6am on Sunday, causing severe flooding in various parts.
District Collector Anil Ranavasiya said: “Our main focus now is cleanliness in the city. Junagadh district received 55mm of rain on Sunday. It did not rain in the city. Three people, including two women, died from the downpour.” Ranavasiya said the water has receded in most areas and more than 1,100 sanitation workers have started clearing sludge and rubbish from the roads. Schools and universities will open from Monday and tourists will be allowed in Bhavnath Taleti.
Look Gujarat floods: LPG chute flooded at Navsari, large number of cylinders washed away, video goes viral