Junagadh, July 17: A 14-member team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rescued eight people and six animals from flood-affected Bhiyal village in Junagadh District. The operation concluded at 5.10 pm this evening. Heavy rains have lashed Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions. Gir Somnath which is just 79 Km from Junagadh.

According to the officials, 3,500 people have been shifted to safer places in different districts of the state. Due to bad weather in Gir Somnath, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s helicopter could not land. Rupani went to Somnath for holding a review meeting.

Educational institutions in Rajkot, Gir Somnath and Amreli districts remained closed on July 17. Tankers were used to provide water to the villagers in the area. Around 20 teams of the NDRF were rushed to carry out rescue and relief operations alongside local authorities.

Over 27 dams and reservoirs in Saurashtra region are overflowing as heavy rains lashed districts like Rajkot, Gir Somnath and Amreli since the past 24 hours. South Gujarat region received 57.27 per cent of the average rainfall till today. North Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, has received the lowest rainfall in this season so far. Till date, Ahmedabad received only 90 mm of rains, whereas, in 2017, the city had received 250 mm of rains till mid-July.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2018 07:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).