Rajkot: Heavy rain continued to lash the Saurashtra region for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, triggering floods, road closures, evacuations and multiple rescue operations across Amreli, Gir Somnath, Porbandar and Bhavnagar districts.A 75-year-old farmer, Bhikhabhai Bavaliya, lost his life after being swept away while attempting to cross a causeway on his way home from his farm on Sunday morning in Konjali village of Mahuva taluka in Bhavnagar district. His body was recovered after a four-hour search operation.
A car being swept away in Dongi River in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar
According to the state government, a total of 547 people were evacuated to safer locations, while 60 were rescued after becoming stranded in floodwaters. About 250 people were shifted in Gir Somnath district and 295 in Junagadh district. Government officials said that 41 people were rescued in Dang district, followed by eight in Gir Somnath and six in Amreli district.In the last 24 hours, rain was recorded in 196 talukas across 31 districts, resulting in the closure of 95 roads, including 76 village roads and six state highways.Amreli emerged as the worst-affected district, with Rajula taluka recording the highest rainfall in the region at 8.98 inches between 6 am and 6 pm on Sunday.According to official rainfall data, Dhari received 6.85 inches, Khambha 5.51 inches, Lilia 4.21 inches, Bagsara 4.17 inches, Savarkundla 3.98 inches and Jafrabad 3.82 inches. Heavy showers were also recorded in Gir Gadhada, Una, Kodinar and Sutrapada talukas of Gir Somnath district, as well as Visavadar taluka in Junagadh district.The rain wreaked havoc across Amreli district, where several roads were submerged and rescue teams remained on alert. Flooding on the Amreli-Pipavav road prompted the Pipavav Marine Police to deploy personnel and prevent motorists from attempting risky crossings.In Savarkundla, a woman was injured after a wall collapsed while she was cooking. She was rescued from the debris and shifted to a hospital for treatment.With the Dhatarwadi and Raydi dams overflowing, authorities issued warnings to residents of more than 11 downstream villages, advising them to avoid low-lying areas and riverbanks.Floodwaters in the Raydi River submerged the main bridge leading to Chotra village in Rajula taluka, cutting off all access and leaving the village temporarily isolated. In Dharabandar village of Jafrabad taluka, around 50 residents were evacuated and shifted to a school as a precautionary measure.In another incident in Rajula, a state transport bus skidded off the road and got stuck in the mud due to the heavy rain. All occupants were evacuated safely before locals helped pull the bus back onto the road. Near Bherai village, authorities shifted around 70 stranded residents to safer locations and distributed food packets.In Gir Somnath district’s Una taluka, strong currents swept several small fishing boats moored along the coast out to sea. Four fishermen were rescued safely.The Porbandar Fire Department also rescued a 22-year-old man, Rajshi Ram, who became trapped in floodwaters while travelling from Junagadh to Madhavpur on the Balej-Amipur road.On Saturday, a car carrying five people was swept away in the Dongi River near Otha village in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district. The vehicle became lodged near a culvert, allowing local residents and rescue teams to evacuate all the occupants safely before recovering the car with the help of an earthmover.With more rainfall forecast, authorities have urged residents across the region to avoid flooded roads, river crossings and low-lying areas, while emergency teams remain on high alert.
