Flood-hit Indian state expected to see more heavy rains

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI, India (AA) - Heavy rains continued to wreak havoc in several parts of western Gujarat state on Thursday, where recent floods claimed 123 lives.

Torrential rains in the past few days resulted in massive floods in the state, bringing normal life to a standstill while rail and road traffic had also been severely affected.

Bodies of 17 people, including 14 from the same family were found from Kharia village in Banaskantha district on Wednesday, according to Gujarati-language media outlet Divya bhaskar.

Banaskantha and Patan were the worst-hit districts of the state.

11,032 people were shifted to Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Mahisagar, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Panchmahal, Aravalli, Kheda and Anand districts as a precautionary measure, government official Pankaj Kumar tweeted.

“We are providing every possible help to those affected by floods. Local municipal officials have also been deployed in flood affected areas to prevent spread of any epidemic,” Kumar later told reporters.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gujarat is set to see heavy rains within the next two days.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced $6,400 in compensation for next of kin of those who died in floods.

Premier Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, also declared $3,200 for relatives of flood victims.

Earlier this week, Modi had announced $80 million for rescue work in the state.