NEW DELHI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in heavy rains and monsoon flooding in India's western state of Gujarat has risen to 15 during the past three days, officials said Monday.
"At least 15 persons have lost their lives in last three days due to heavy rain and flood like situation in Gujarat," officials said.
The authorities have pressed in teams of disaster response force to reach out to the people trapped in floods and carry out rescue work.
"Five disaster response force teams have also been kept on standby for any emergency," the officials said. "Food, drinking water and medicines are being distributed to the flood affected people in low lying areas."
Authorities have asked people to remain alert following overflowing dams and flooding rivers in Saurashtra area.
The rains have paralyzed normal life in several parts of Saurashtra, a peninsular region which covers about a third of Gujarat state, since Friday night. The worst hit districts include Rajkot, Morbi, Surendranagar and Jamnagar.
The monsoon flooding has clogged roads and submerged areas.
More than 2,000 people have been rescued from low-lying areas in the region and shifted to safer locations, officials said.
Rail network and several highways are inundated due to floodwaters, which has resulted in hampering traffic movement. Electricity supply to over 100 villages has been cut, reports said.
