Volunteers rescue Gujarat flood victims

Voluntary religious organisations are coming forward to help thousands homeless, hungry and vulnerable people in flood-hit Gujarat.

Rajkot (Gujarat), Aug 10 : Voluntary religious organisations are coming forward to help thousands homeless, hungry and vulnerable people in flood-hit Gujarat.

These organisations are providing food packets to scores of people marooned and exposed to sweltering temperatures, sudden downpours and filthy conditions.Hungry families are still camping out on embankments and roads under makeshift tarpaulin shelters, waiting for someone to deliver food and clean water to them.

"From the very first day, we started making food packets for these people. We have distributed over 25,000 to 26,000 food packets till date," said Suchetan Swami, a volunteer.Heavy rains over the past two-days had thrown life out of gear in Gujarat.Several districts in Saushatra are submerged and the Indian air Force (IAF) has been called in for rescue and relief operations.The port city of Jamnagar is littered with uprooted electric poles and transformers.

Water released from two major dams in the area has swamped roads and transport is at a standstill.

Over 5000 people have been relocated from their flooded homes.

The coastal districts of Veraval, Jamnagar and Rajkot are the worst affected in the state. In all, over 16,000 people have been shifted to safer places.

The Army and Air Force have been pressed into service in Veraval and Junagah Districts.

About 290 people have lost their lives in floods in Gujarat, while several people are still reported missing.

ANI