Summary:
Rajkot, Sep 13 (PTI) Authorities in Rajkot in Gujarat on Monday sought help from the Indian Air Force and Navy as heavy rains through the day inundated large parts of the district, leading to the death of one person and the evacuation to safety of over 2,000 people.
Several parts of Rajkot city were submerged in water, with urgent need to relocate at least 200 people from low-lying areas due to the Aji river overflowing, officials said.
Lodhika taluka here received 504 millimetres of rain in a 12-hour period ending at 6am on Monday, the highest in the state, while others areas that received heavy rainfall during this period were Rajkot taluka (323 mm), Dhoraji (208 mm), Kotdasangani (190 mm), Paddhari (170 mm), Gondal (166 mm), Jamkhandorna (131 mm) and Upleta (92 mm).
District Collector Arun Mahesh Babu said the Indian Air Force and the Navy had been asked to assist in rescue and search operations in different parts of the district.
"A Navy team stationed in Porbandar district has been sought to assist in the search operation of two persons missing after a car was swept away while it was crossing an overflowing river in Lodhika taluka," the collector said.
The IAF is also assisting in efforts to rescue people stranded in three villages, with the operation, delayed by bad weather, expected to start as soon as conditions get favourable, he said.