Gandhinagar, July 14 : Friday, the 13th, turned out to be a nightmare for the usually dry Saurashtra region of Gujarat, as the rain gods lashed it with torrential downpours that claimed three lives.

During the last 10 hours, the region has received from 60 mm to more than 180 mm rainfall, particularly in the Junagadh district, the state emergency response centre said.

For the past 10 hours, heavy rains hit Kodinar taluka (tehsil/block) of Junagadh district with 180 mm downpour. Heavy downpour also took place in Maliya and Sutrapada talukas of Gir-Somnath district, with 175 mm and 166 mm of rains, respectively. Visavadar in Gir-Somnath received 96 mm of rains on Friday.

Other talukas like Bhesan and Mendarda of Junagadh district and Talala of Gir-Somnath district registered 85, 105 and 85 mm rainfall over the past 10 hours. Veraval in Gir-Somnath received 75 mm and Jamkandorna taluka in Rajkot district received 98 mm rains.

According to the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), power supply has been affected in 24 villages of these districts, besides Amreli, where supply has been cut off in five villages.

Shetrunji Dam in Saurashtra is overflowing with flood waters. The authorities have shut 154 roads of the state, including one national highway and four state highways.

Meanwhile, incessant rains continued in south Gujarat, with Waghai in Dang district receiving 60 mm, Mangrol in Surat 55 mm and Meghraj in Aravalli 52 mm rainfall.

The Met Department has predicted that torrential downpour will continue in Gujarat over the next two days, with heavy to very heavy rains in some regions.

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New Delhi (PTI): Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin was on Sunday appointed as the BJP national working president and is likely to eventually succeed JP Nadda as its national president, signalling a generational shift in the ruling party.

Nabin, 45, son of late Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha -- a veteran BJP leader and former MLA -- is considered dynamic and ideologically rooted, and deeply committed to the organisation, party leaders said.

A five-time MLA, he represents Bankipur assembly constituency in Bihar and has served twice as a minister in the Bihar Government.

His tenures as a minister in Bihar and his role as the party incharge of Chhattisgarh have been truly outstanding and marked by his effective organisational leadership, they said.

The BJP parliamentary board picked Nabin for the post.

"Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board has appointed Nitin Nabin, a minister in the Bihar government, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national working president with immediate effect," BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said in a notification.

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Nabin, who belongs to the Kayastha community, is likely to succeed incumbent BJP chief Nadda and is one of the youngest leaders to occupy the post, the leaders said.

Nadda, 65, was appointed the BJP President in January 2020 and has already completed his full term. He was granted extensions to lead the party through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Congratulating Nabin on his appointment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has distinguished himself as a "hardworking Karyakarta" and expressed confidence that his energy and dedication will strengthen the party.

"He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as Minister in Bihar for multiple terms. He has diligently worked to fulfil people's aspirations.

"He is known for his humble nature and grounded style of working. I am confident that his energy and dedication will strengthen our Party in the times to come. Congratulations to him on becoming the BJP National Working President," PM Modi said on X.

Nabin has also worked extensively for Yuva Morcha. His appointment reflects the BJP’s focus on capable leadership and signals a generational shift, the leaders said.

BJP chief Nadda also greeted Nabin and said he was confident that the party would attain new heights under his leadership.

"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the dynamic BJP leader from the sacred land of knowledge and culture, Bihar, and Minister in the Bihar Government, Shri Nitin Nabin ji on his appointment as the National Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"I am fully confident that under the guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and your leadership, the organisation will reach new heights with the sentiments of nation-building and public service. Heartfelt best wishes for your illustrious and successful tenure," he said on X.