PM offers assistance to flood-hit Gujarat

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday offered Central assistance for relief and rehabilitation to flood-hit Gujarat as death toll reached 84.

New Delhi, July 3 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday offered Central assistance for relief and rehabilitation to flood-hit Gujarat as death toll reached 84.

Singh called up Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi this evening to enquire about the flood situation in the State.

Schools and colleges have declared a holiday in the state and army has been put on alert as incessant rains lashed districts of Bharuch, Narmada and Surat in South Gujarat and Bhavnagar and Surendranagar Districts in Saurashtra region.

Ten people died in roof collapses, lightning and drowning in the Gujarat's Jamnagar District yesterday, officials said.

With four persons killed in Junagadh District death toll in Gujarat rose to 28.

Over 35,000 people in low-lying areas were shifted to higher grounds, officials said.

Overnight rains flooded homes in several villages, forcing people to take shelter on trees or move on the roofs.

Rains continue to wreak havoc on eastern and southern parts of the country. At least two people were killed and two others have gone missing after being washed away in flash floods in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Heavy rains and floods have brought misery to the lives of millions of people in Mumbai as it several low-lying areas were submerged in rain waters.

Three belonging to one family were washed away by the waters of Mithi River in the city, while another boy was carried away in flood waters.

MLA Naseem Khan said a search is on for the victims' bodies.

He said: "Four people went missing yesterday -- two adults and two children. We are still looking for two more missing persons".

In Kolkata's Amreli city, people remained indoors as streets were waterlogged.

Kolkata recorded 160 mm of rainfall since last night.

At least six people died in roof collapse in the rain in South 24 Parganas District early this morning. One person was electrocuted at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas, while another was killed in a house collapse.

Many schools and colleges declared a holiday because of the heavy rains and flooding.

Rail and flight services were disrupted because of flooding of rail tracks and poor visibility.

Rain is also wreaking havoc in Karnataka with water overflowing from the Krishna River in Belgaum, Bijapur and Bagalkot Districts.

Heavy rainfalls continued in Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Hassan Districts. Mudigere in Chikmagalur District received 22 centimetres (cm) of rainfall on Monday, followed by Bhagamandala in Kodagu with 16.

Over 57 people have lost their lives in recent floods caused by heavy rainfall during the monsoon season and forced another 100,000 out of their homes in south, southwest and western India.

ANI