Gujarat downpour: Centre rushes 10 more NDRF teams to areas affected by floods, heavy rain

New Delhi: The Centre Thursday rushed 10 additional NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams to Gujarat, which is reeling under floods and heavy rains, a senior official said.Twenty-two teams, each with a strength of 45 personnel, are already operating in the state, and the additional ones will reach there Thursday night."Three teams each from the NDRF base in Ghaziabad and Mundali (Odisha), and four teams from Araokkonam in Tamil Nadu are being airlifted to strengthen relief and rescue efforts. All these teams are self-contained and shall be operational in worst flood affected areas of Gujarat by tomorrow morning," the official said.The NDRF teams present in the state are engaged in rescue and relief operations in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Bhuj, Banaskantha, Dwarka, Rajkot, Patan, Surat, Valsad and Morbi districts of the state.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas and announced interim assistance of Rs 500 crore for the state. Heavy rains had triggered floods in Banaskantha and Patan districts of Gujarat after which the Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF were called in for rescue and relief operations.The death toll due to heavy rains and floods across the state stood at 123 till Wednesday.Banaskantha and Patan are the worst-hit districts due to incessant downpour and the swelling Banas and Sipu rivers.