3 weeks ago
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At least 28 people have been killed and more than 24,000 relocated in the western Indian state of Gujarat since Sunday after heavy rains led to massive flooding.
Officials said that several rivers and reservoirs are overflowing as water levels exceeded the danger mark.
The Indian army and national disaster response teams are carrying out relief and rescue operations in the worst-hit areas.
Officials further said the state is on high alert as the weather department predicted heavy rains to continue over the next few days.
Gujarat regularly witness severe floods during the monsoon season. More than 200 people lost their lives in floods triggered by unrelenting rain in 2017.
According to a government report, many parts of Gujarat are vulnerable to floods because major rivers “pass through a wide stretch of the very flat terrain before reaching the sea”.
Photos showed flooded streets and overflowing rivers resulting in rescuing the stranded people with helicopters.
Transport services have also been disrupted in several parts leading to the cancellation of up to 48 train services in the state on Wednesday.
Villages and towns in the Saurashtra region have been worst affected as they received ceaseless rain for nearly 48 hours.
Several farmers told BBC Gujarati that the downpour had caused extensive damage to crops like cotton and groundnut.
Weather officials expect the heavy rains to start tapering off by September 1 as the deep depression in the Arabian Sea shifts towards Pakistan.
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