Three killed in Gujarat rains

GANDHINAGAR - Three people, including a two-year-old boy, were killed as heavy rains lashed Gujarat Thursday. The weather office here has forecast more rains in the state for next two days.

The deaths occurred in house collapses reported from various parts of the state.

The boy was killed in a house collapse in Adajan area of Surat, a middle-aged woman died in Gondal town of Rajkot district and another woman died in Jhapodar village of Junagadh district, officials said.

At least 15 houses have collapsed due to heavy rains, official sources said.

The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast continuous heavy rainfall throughout the state over the next two days and has warned the fishermen to keep away from the sea.

Most of the schools and colleges in Vadodara remained closed due to rainfall. The Vishwamitri river was also flowing over the danger mark and over 2,000 people in Waghodia and Dabhoi towns in the district have been evacuated.

The Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river also began to overflow Thursday with the water intake rate at over three lakh cusecs.

An official spokesperson said the state government had ordered diverting the excess water of the dam to yet-unfilled dams and reservoirs in central and north Gujarat

through a network of canals.