Rain lashes S Gujarat, 4 dead

Surat: In the first major spell in south Gujarat this monsoon, the districts of Surat, Valsad, Navsari, Bharuch and Tapi received a good rainfall since Saturday night. At least four rain-related deaths were reported.
While three children drowned in a pit behind their home in Chharwada village of Vapi in Valsad district, a 42-year-man died after a tree fell on his autorickshaw in Surat city.
On Sunday, Surat district received the highest rain till 6pm, with Surat city, Palsana, Bardoli, Kamrej, Olpad and Mahuva getting more than 4 inch rain, along with Vapi and Valsad talukas.
The Surat city received more than 5 inch of rain and the 3km road from Nani Ved to Vihar crossroads was submerged. The mayor had to rush to the spot.
The fire brigade received 47 calls for uprooted trees. In one such incident, 42-year-old Hanif Shaikh died after a tree fell on his autorickshaw in Ashwinikumar area of Varachha zone.
People in Katargam, Dabholi, Singanpore, Majura, Udhna and Limbayat areas faced hardship because of rain. Many vehicles broke down due to waterlogging.
In Unn area of Surat, two electricity poles collapsed. This resulted in damage to an autorickshaw. Two women escaped the accident miraculously.
In Vapi, three kids died by drowning in a pit behind their home in Neha complex of Chharwada village. This incident comes after two days of a girl drowning in a drainage in Navsari.
The incident took place around 7pm, when the kids were playing in the rain and jumped into a pit behind their home. An accidental death complaint was registered with Dungra police of Valsad district.
Dungra police inspector S P Gohil said, “The kids who died were Harsh Tiwari and Ridhhi Tiwari — both twins and seven years old — and Arushi Solanki aged nine years. There is a big space behind the complex where they lived. In that space, a pit existed. The kids jumped into it and died. Primarily, it seems they might have got stuck in the pit due to mud in it. We are investigating.”
Following the rain, D M Nagar society in Bardoli got submerged in water. Water also entered in many houses in society.
On Sunday, Bharuch city also received 4 inch rain which resulted in waterlogging at many places. A balcony of the dilapidated Gayatri flats collapsed in Maktampur area.