Rain unabated in Kutch, Saurashtra; two killed

RAJKOT: Two women drowned while another one was missing after their car got swept away in raging currents of Rasnal river near Rajkot on Sunday as Saurashtra and Kutch reeled under rain fury for the third day.


Kalyanpur taluka of Devbhoomi Dwarka district recorded 350 mm rainfall within a span of 12 hours, while Lodhika of Rajkot district recorded the second highest rainfall (115 mm).

In Jamkandorna town of Rajkot, four of a family were swept away in the strong currents of Rasnal river overflowing a bridge. “While bodies of Radha Marakana (39) and Ranjan Marakana (45) were recovered, Sharmila Marakana (38) is missing. Sharmila’s husband Bhupat, who was driving the car, was rescued,” said T A Malek of Jamkandorana police station.

The victims were going to attend an engagement function in Jasapar village of Jamkandorana taluka.

All twelve gates of Bhadar dam opened

A team of National Disaster Response Force and Dhoraji and Gondal fire brigades fished out the bodies of Radha and Ranjan which were stuck in the car,” added T A Malek of Jamkandorana police station.

In Lamba village of Kalyanpur taluka, rain waters swamped farms, inundating them completely. “This is not a river. It is my farm. The 145 mm rainfall has flooded my entire farm,” said a farmer from Lamba village in a video that went viral on WhatsApp.

All the dams in Rajkot, Junagadh, Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar have started overflowing, following which alerts were issued to the people living in the catchment areas of the dams.

The rain also dampened the spirit of Navratri festivities as garba venues in Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar and Porbandar were inundated.