Dwarka: A tragic incident occurred in Jam Khambhalia town, Gujarat, where an elderly woman and her two granddaughters perished after a decrepit three-storey building collapsed amidst heavy rainfall in the Saurashtra region.
The collapse took place on Tuesday evening in the Gagwani Fali area of the town. Rescue operations stretched close to six hours, extending till midnight, culminating in the retrieval of the three victims’ bodies. Additionally, five individuals were rescued from the rubble.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, in collaboration with local police and fire services, endeavoured to remove the debris and aid the victims. The incessant heavy rains plaguing the area were identified as the cause of the calamity.
The deceased were identified as Kesharben Kanjaria, aged 65, Pritiben Kanjaria, aged 15, and Payalben Kanjaria, aged 18. Five more individuals trapped under the debris were saved by local efforts. Authorities have reported that the deceased were transported to a government hospital for autopsy procedures.
Heavy rainfall has been reported across Saurashtra and the southern districts of Gujarat, causing floods in low-lying regions, dam overflows, and riverbanks reaching critical levels.
Umarpada taluka in Surat district recorded a significant 276 mm of rainfall within 24 hours ending Wednesday morning. Similar extreme weather conditions were reported in Navsari, Junagadh, Devbhumi Dwarka, Kutch, Dangs, and Tapi districts, leading to widespread flooding.
Advisories have been circulated by local administrations, cautioning residents to remain indoors and avoid waterlogged areas. Following these events, the Navsari district collector has announced a shutdown of educational institutions for the day.
