RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD/VADODARA: Unseasonal rain coupled with severe thunderstorms and powerful gusty wind gusts claimed 17 lives across Gujarat in the last 24 hours ending Tuesday morning. Four casualties were reported in Kheda district, three each in Vadodara city and Dahod district, two each in Ahmedabad and Aravalli, and one each in Anand, Panchmahal and Amreli districts. The deaths were caused by lightning, electrocution and collapse of trees, houses and hoardings.A total of 168 out of 253 talukas were lashed by rain, with the coastal Mahuva town in Bhavnagar getting the highest 170mm rainfall in just six hours. Officials said strong winds uprooted trees, hoardings and pillars, and parts of houses collapsed in several districts, leaving many injured.On Tuesday, Amreli and Bhavnagar district were pounded by heavy rainfall and fierce winds, bringing major relief from days of blistering heat, but causing severe damage to mango, onion, sesame and bajra crops. Farmers and traders fear that harvested crops of onion and garlic lying in the fields may get spoiled.
