Gujarat floods: 40 dead, Army and police rescue over 1,000 stranded workers

Severe flooding in Gujarat has claimed at least 40 lives, with the highest casualties reported in the southern districts of Valsad and Navsari. According to the State Revenue Department, 33 deaths occurred in these two districts, primarily due to electrocution or drowning. One death each was reported from Tapi and Surat districts, while Ahmedabad district recorded two deaths, and one each in Anand and Banaskantha districts.

In Ahmedabad district, the Army and Gujarat Police conducted rescue operations at industrial units and warehouses. Nearly 900 workers were rescued from the Gallops Industrial Park in Bavla, and more than 80 workers were evacuated from an Amazon warehouse in Bagodra taluka by the Army. The 60-km National Highway 47, connecting Ahmedabad to Rajkot, remained closed to traffic till Bagodra for the second consecutive day due to flood damage. The state highway linking Ahmedabad to Viramgam via Sanand and Mandal, which was closed on Friday, reopened late Saturday for heavy vehicles.

Flooding in Ahmedabad district has been attributed to excessive rainfall and the release of water from the Sabarmati River through the Vasna barrage. The river flows into the Gulf of Khambhat in the Arabian Sea via Dholka. Although rainfall eased in Ahmedabad city, the southwestern suburbs, including Bopal, Ghuma, Sindhu Bhavan Road, and Thaltej, remained waterlogged. Several sinkholes were reported, including one at a party plot on Sindhu Bhavan Road.

In Navsari district, 23 deaths were confirmed, with the highest number in Gandevi taluka. Superintendent of Police Rahul Patel stated that approximately 20,000 people have been rescued and relocated by the district administration. The devastation was exacerbated by overflow from the Ambika, Kaveri, and Purna rivers, which receive rainwater from the Dang, Tapi, and Surat districts.

Valsad district reported 10 deaths across seven talukas, with over 16,500 people rescued and moved to shelter homes or relatives' homes, according to Superintendent of Police Yuvrajsinh Jadeja. Four missing complaints have been registered in the district.

The heavy rainfall has caused water levels to rise in rivers, creeks, and dams across the region, leading to widespread flooding in low-lying areas. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and conduct rescue operations.