Daijiworld Media Network – Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Jul 23: Torrential rain continued to lash Gujarat on Thursday, causing flood-like conditions in several parts of south Gujarat, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people and prompting the deployment of Army personnel and additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams for rescue operations.
According to Relief Commissioner Gaurav Makwana, around 1,200 people were rescued from Umargam in Valsad district after the town received nearly 43 inches of rainfall within 28 hours, making it one of the worst-hit areas. Kaprada and Vapi also witnessed extremely heavy rainfall during the ongoing spell.
Around 1,500 residents were shifted to safer locations in Surat city, while nearly 200 people stranded in 11 villages of Navsari district due to flooding in the Kaveri River were rescued and evacuated.
Makwana said one rain-related fatality had been reported so far after a person drowned in Tapi district.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the flood situation at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar and held discussions with the district collectors of Surat, Valsad, Navsari and Tapi to monitor rescue and relief measures.
According to an official release, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah separately spoke to the Chief Minister and assured him of the Centre's full support for rescue, relief and evacuation efforts.
Officials said the Centre has deployed a 70-member Army team, five rescue boats and a 25-member fire services team in Valsad. Two additional NDRF teams have also been sent from New Delhi to strengthen rescue operations.
Heavy rainfall also disrupted normal life in Ahmedabad, where all government, grant-in-aid and self-financed secondary and higher secondary schools will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.
Between 6 am and 2 pm on Thursday, Mandal in Ahmedabad district recorded 166 mm of rainfall, followed by Viramgam with 144 mm, Detroj-Rampura with 106 mm and Ahmedabad city with 89 mm, according to SEOC data.
Officials said Surat currently has three NDRF teams and five State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed, while Valsad has two NDRF and four SDRF teams. One additional NDRF team and one SDRF team are being rushed to Valsad, while Navsari has two SDRF teams and will receive one redeployed NDRF team from Surat.
The Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard have also been kept on standby to airlift stranded residents if weather conditions permit.
According to SEOC figures, Umarpada in Surat district recorded the highest rainfall in the state between 6 am and 2 pm on Thursday at 328 mm. Khergam in Navsari received 274 mm, followed by Pardi in Valsad with 268 mm, Umargam with 251 mm, Netrang in Bharuch with 249 mm, Valsad town with 224 mm, and Mehmedabad in Kheda and Nanapondha in Valsad with 204 mm each.
Other areas receiving heavy rainfall included Vapi with 182 mm, Becharaji in Mehsana with 181 mm, Dharampur with 172 mm, Vaghai with 169 mm and Kaprada with 167 mm.
Officials said more than 300 panchayat roads had been temporarily closed due to overtopping, while over 200 Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus services had been suspended because of the adverse weather conditions.