Torrential Rains Wreak Havoc: Airport Wall Falls, 35 Dead in Gujarat; Schools Shut in Mizoram

New Delhi: Torrential rains in Gujarat and Mizoram have wreaked havoc in the states, resulting in school closures and collapse of infrastructure. At least 35 people have died in Gujarat since Monday while Mizoram has not reported any casualties yet.

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The runway side wall of Gujarat’s Rajkot International Airport collapsed on Thursday (August 29) morning amid heavy rains, the Indian Express reported.

According to the report, as many as 71 villages of Jamangar have been cut off from the rest of the district, without any supply of electricity. The Army and Indian Coast Guard are running rescue operations for people in flood-affected areas.

Devbhumi Dwarka district as well as Kalyanpur, Bhanyad and Khambhalia blocks reported extremely heavy rainfall.

The Bhanyad block in the district logged five inches of rain during 12 hours by 6 am on Thursday. Kalyanpur, Khambhalia and Dwarka blocks recorded four, two and one inches of rain respectively during the same period.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel to assure the Union government’s support to the state.

Patel announced that after the flood water recedes in Vadodara, teams from Ahmedabad, Surat, Bharuch, and Anand Municipal Corporation will be deployed with cleaning equipment and disinfectants in the affected areas.

While the state government had asked all primary schools to remain closed on Tuesday, several schools in the Central and Katargam zones of Surat remained shut even on Wednesday

Mizoram

A newly-constructed railway station collapsed in Mizoram’s Kawnpui due to a landslide triggered by heavy rains on Wednesday, the Deccan Herald reported.

The state has been battered by heavy rains since August 20, resulting in landslides and landslips in several places.

The state government ordered the closure of schools in four districts – Aizawl, Lunglei, Hnahthial and Mamit – on Wednesday, as a precautionary measure due to the heavy rains.

The Aizawl district administration in its notice also cautioned against landslips, mudslips and rock falls, which have been witnessed in several areas within Aizawl town, and said that more such incidents may occur.

Last week, schools were closed for five consecutive days in Aizawl and Kolasib districts and for a few days in south Mizoram’s Siaha district due to heavy rain, the Deccan Herald reported.

At least 42 people have been killed in landslips and other natural calamities across the State since March this year, according to the State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department.