PM Modi takes stock of situation in flood-hit Gujarat, announces Rs 500 crore for rescue work

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced Rs 500 crore rescue work for flood-hit Gujarat and Rs two lakh compensation to the kin of 83 people who have died and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

PM Modi, who flew over Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Patan districts of North Gujarat, said a team of the union Urban Development and Rural Development Ministries would visit the state to assess the extent of damage and suggest short-term as well as long-term measures.

He was accompanied by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel during the aerial survey. 

The Prime Minister chaired a high level meeting on the floods in Gujarat. A detailed presentation on the heavy rain situation was shared.

Later he praised the Gujarat government for "rising to the occasion promptly and having already prepared a blueprint for the crisis".

"I have taken stock of the situation due to floods. Officers from the Government of India will assist in short term and long term measures. Everything possible will be done to help the farmers, who suffer immensely due to floods. While reviewing the situation, I could see the Government of Gujarat responded to the flood situation quite swiftly," he said.

"Social organisations have also played an active role in rescue and relief operations in the wake of the floods in Gujarat. The people of Gujarat are blessed with a strong spirit of resilience. These floods will not impact the development journey of Gujarat. I have faith in the strength of the people of Gujarat," he added. 

PM also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured due to floods in Gujarat.

The flood situation in Gujarat:

The north Gujarat districts of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Patan have been flooded after incessant rains.

Tharad town has received maximum rainfall of 24 inches, followed by Dhanera 20 inches, Dantiwada 18, Palanpur 15, Deesa and Diyodar 13 inches each, Patan 12 inches and Vadgam about 11 inches, as per IANS.

The region has got 95 per cent of its seasonal average of 659 mm.

In all, entire Gujarat has registered 534 mm of rain, which is 66 per cent of its total usual seasonal average of 810 mm. 

As many as 46,000 people have been moved to safety in Banaskantha district till Tuesday evening even as 1,000 persons have been rescued. 

A total of 472 villages in the district are without electricity, with six national highways, 61 other roads and 287 panchayat roads closed for vehicular traffic.

The Army, IAF, NDRF, police and fire brigade are engaged in rescuing people from flooded areas.

They also dropped over 300 kg of food packets in the district.

As many as 38 of the 203 dams across the state are on high alert.

While Dholidhaja, Vansal and Nimbam dams in Surendranagar, Machchhu-1 and Ghodadharoi in Morbi and Kankawati dam in Jamnagar districts have received up to 90 per cent of their water storage capacity.

Twenty-three dams in Saurashtra, four in Kutch, four in central Gujarat and one dam in south Gujarat were full to the brim.

In Ahmedabad, which sees the Sabarmati river cut through the middle of the city, 5,663 people from 40 villages surrounding Gujarat's main city have been relocated and provided with food packets and health kits. 

This is being done as water is being released from Dharoi dam across Sabarmati river in the upstream area about 60-70 km from Ahmedabad. 

As must as 1.10 lakh cusecs of water has been released from the dam. 

Reviewed the flood situation in parts of Gujarat. Assured all possible support from Centre to deal with this situation. pic.twitter.com/PO4D6WCPUF — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2017

In Gujarat, I also conducted an aerial survey of flood affected areas. https://t.co/l2RgNa6AXe pic.twitter.com/x8ofi9qOYP — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2017

I have faith in the people of Gujarat & their resilience. Gujarat will overcome this adversity & continue to scale new heights of progress. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2017

(With IANS inputs)