700 NDRF personnel, three choppers deployed in flood-hit Gujarat, Rajasthan

NEW DELHI: More than 700 NDRF personnel, 3 helicopters and 30 boats have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in Gujarat and Rajasthan where incessant rains have claimed 22 lives.

A total of 15 search and rescue teams of National Disaster Response Force consisting of 510 trained responders along with 57 rubber boats were deployed at various flood-hit parts of Gujarat, including Banaskantha, Bhuj and Ahmedabad.

Six search and rescue teams of NDRF consisting of 228 trained responders along with 30 rubber boats have also been pressed into service in Jhalawar, Jaipur, Udaipur and Jalore, said an official statement.

Besides, two teams are being airlifted from Bhisinia airfield to Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and two teams from Pune to Ahmedabad.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to assess the flood situation in the state. Singh assured Patel full central assistance to tackle the situation.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary discussed the flood situation of Gujarat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister. Chaudhary, who hails from Gujarat, sought maximum central assistance including rescue teams for flood-affected areas of Gujarat.

So far, NDRF have evacuated 283 persons (including 111 persons at village Varun and 87 persons at village Chatara in Banaskantha district) from affected areas to safer place.

NDRF has mobilised its search and rescue teams to flood- affected areas from its Pune, Gandhinagar and Ghaziabad bases to assist the respective state administrations in rescue and relief works.

The Centre is monitoring the situation in flood-hit Gujarat and other areas in the country.