GANDHINAGAR/PATNA: Incessant rains, overflowing dams and rivers in spate wrecked havoc in Gujarat on Wednesday rendering thousands homeless even as Army was called in to assist the administration in flood-affected areas.
Major rivers, however, showed a receding trend in Bihar, Assam and Uttar Pradesh. Five persons, including three children of a family, were drowned in Begusarai district of Bihar on Wednesday in two separate incidents of boat capsize.
In Gujarat, the brunt was borne by coastal town of Veraval, Jamnagar and Rajkot, where over 16,000 people have been shifted to safer places. While an Army column was pressed into service in Veraval in Junagadh district, an IAF helicopter was used in Jamnagar and two National Disaster Response Force teams were rushed to Rajkot. The helicopter rescued eight people, who were stranded in flood waters after a check-dam overflowed.
This year 290 people have lost their lives in Gujarat floods and rains. On Wednesday eight persons were reported missing in the state. Boats have been engaged in rescue operation.
Of the 225 talukas of Gujarat, 35 received over 100 mm rainfall on Wednesday, with Talala in Junagadh receiving 503 mm. "Indian Meteorological Department's Delhi office has warned us of very heavy rainfall in south Gujarat and southern Saurashtra. The district secretaries in charge have been asked to coordinate rescue and relief operations on a war-footing," officer on special duty for flood relief D S Satya said.
In Bihar, two persons died when a boat taking them to collect relief material capsized in Begusarai district. In another incident, three children of a family died when a small boat capsized in the flood waters in the same district. Other members of the family, which was shifting to a safer place, survived.
The Uttar Pradesh government has sought a Central assistance of Rs 2,200 crore for relief work in 22 districts hit by floods. Relief commissioner Umesh Sinha told TOI that a memorandum was sent to the Union government on Monday.
Out of 20 lakh people affected by floods in UP, 1.6 lakh had been displaced from their homes and most of them were in relief camps, Sinha said.