Vadodara: A four-year-old girl who was swept away in floodwaters in Chhota Udepur district was found dead on Saturday morning, as heavy rain continued to disrupt normal life across central Gujarat.Rain-related incidents were also reported from Anand, where five major roads remained closed due to waterlogging, and Dahod, where authorities released water from Hadaf dam and issued an alert to villages downstream.Riyansi, a resident of the Tandalja-Dhanpur settlement in Bodeli taluka, was swept away in a stream on Friday while returning home from a farm with her father and grandfather.An NDRF team recovered her body nearly 500 m downstream early on Saturday following an overnight search.Heavy rainfall also caused a house to collapse in Nava bazaar area of Jabugam village in Bodeli taluka on Friday evening. While no fatalities were reported, the collapse damaged the adjoining wall of a neighbouring house belonging to Budha Tadvi. Falling bricks from the wall injured a young girl on the head.The continued rainfall in Chhota Udepur district and upstream catchments also led to Jojwa weir near Bodeli overflowing. Orsang river was flowing bank-to-bank on Saturday, prompting large crowds to gather near the overflowing weir and riverbanks despite the prevailing wet conditions.In Anand district, the administration kept five major roads in Tarapur, Borsad, Sojitra and Petlad talukas closed after rainwater flowed over the road surfaces, making them unsafe for traffic. Authorities have announced alternative routes, installed warning signboards and said the roads will be reopened once water levels recede.Dahod district authorities opened one gate of Hadaf dam by 0.5 ft at noon on Saturday to release around 623 cusecs of water in order to regulate the reservoir level. Residents of villages located along the river downstream have been advised to stay away from riverbanks, avoid entering the river, keep livestock away from the water and strictly follow official advisories.
