Heavy rains continued to lash Gujarat on Thursday, causing flood-like conditions in parts of southern Gujarat and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. Umargam in Valsad district recorded nearly 43 inches of rain in 28 hours, prompting deployment of Army personnel and additional teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue operations.
Relief Commissioner Gaurav Makwana said around 1,200 people were rescued from Umargam and the Center deployed additional Army personnel and NDRF teams. Umargam district witnessed the highest rainfall during this period, while Cabrada and Vapi towns also witnessed heavy rainfall.
About 1,500 people were shifted to safer places in Surat city, while 200 people stranded in 11 villages in Navsari were rescued and evacuated after floods in the Kaveri river. He added that the drowning incident in Tapi was the only rain-related death reported so far.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the flood situation at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Gandhinagar and spoke to flood collectors in Surat, Valsad, Navsari and Tapi districts to assess rescue and relief operations, according to an official statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah separately spoke to Patel and assured him of the Centre’s full support for rescue, relief and evacuation efforts, according to the government statement.
According to officials, the Center has deployed a 70-member Army team, five boats and a 25-member fire services team in Valsad, besides sending two additional NDRF teams from New Delhi.
Heavy rains also disrupted normal life in Ahmedabad, as all government secondary schools, self-financed secondary schools and high schools will remain closed on Thursday and Friday. Ahmedabad district also witnessed heavy rains, with Mandal recording 166 mm (6.54 inches), Viramgam 144 mm (5.67 inches), Detrog-Rampura 106 mm (4.17 inches) and Ahmedabad city 89 mm (3.50 inches) between 6 am and 2 pm on Thursday, according to data released by the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
Surat currently has three NDRF teams and five SDRF teams, while Valsad has two NDRF teams and four SDRF teams, with an additional NDRF team and one SDRF team being shifted there, officials said. Navsari has two ANSDF teams, while one ANSDF team is redeployed from Surat. They added that the Air Force and Coast Guard also remained on standby and that the stranded people would be airlifted if weather conditions permitted.
According to SEOC data, Umarpada in Surat district recorded the highest rainfall in the state of 328 mm (12.91 inches) between 6 am and 2 pm on Thursday. Kharagam in Navsari got 274 mm (10.79 in), followed by Bardi in Valsad with 268 mm (10.55 in), Ambergaon 251 mm (9.88 in), Netrang in Bharuch 249 mm (9.80 in), Valsad town 224 mm (8.82 in), and Mohammedabad in Kheda and Nanabunda in Valsad 204 mm. (8.03 inches) each. Vapi recorded 182 mm (7.17 in), Becharaji in Mehsana 181 mm (7.13 in), Dharampur 172 mm (6.77 in), Vaagai 169 mm (6.65 in), and Kabrada 167 mm (6.57 in).
More than 300 panchayat routes were temporarily closed due to violations, while more than 200 bus trips of the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation were suspended, officials said.
