Daijiworld Media Network - Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar, Jul 24: Gujarat's massive flood relief operation continues at full scale, with more than 38,600 people shifted to safer locations and over 5,500 residents rescued from inundated areas as persistent heavy rainfall disrupts normal life across several districts. Multiple central and state agencies, supported by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard, remain engaged in rescue and relief efforts in the worst-hit regions.

The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar reported that 38,653 people have been evacuated since the onset of the monsoon, while rescue teams have safely brought 5,547 stranded individuals out of flood-affected areas.

To strengthen disaster response, the Gujarat government has deployed 49 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) across vulnerable districts. The Indian Army has also positioned six teams in Ahmedabad, Navsari and Valsad, with two teams assigned to each district to assist local authorities.

The Indian Air Force is conducting rescue missions in Vadodara, while the Indian Coast Guard is carrying out aerial reconnaissance over flood-hit regions of Navsari, Valsad and Tapi. Coast Guard personnel are also actively rescuing stranded residents from Bilimora and Gandevi, where rising floodwaters have forced large-scale evacuations.

Heavy rain continued to lash several parts of north and central Gujarat. According to the SEOC, Deodar taluka in Banaskantha district received more than three inches of rainfall within a two-hour period. Other areas witnessing significant rainfall included Bhabhar in Banaskantha, Dhansura in Aravalli, Lilia in Amreli and Santalpur in Patan, each recording more than two inches during the same period.

Rescue operations remained in progress across multiple districts on Friday. SDRF teams rescued affected residents from Pandor village in Valsad's Nanapondha taluka and carried out another operation in Dharampuri village under Navsari's Vansda taluka.

In Ahmedabad district, three people trapped by floodwaters near Chaloda village in Dholka taluka on Thursday night were rescued by local authorities with SDRF assistance. In another incident, 20 passengers stranded inside a bus between Sarbhat and Badarkha villages were safely evacuated using a tractor.

The Indian Coast Guard also launched a separate rescue mission in Meghar village of Gandevi taluka in Navsari district, helping shift residents from waterlogged areas to secure locations.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police Gyanendra Singh Malik is scheduled to visit the State Emergency Operations Centre in Gandhinagar to review the flood situation and assess the ongoing rescue and relief measures in the affected districts.

Officials said emergency agencies remain on high alert and are continuing round-the-clock monitoring as rainfall persists and flood response operations continue across Gujarat.