Over 1,200 Rescued as Torrential Rain Batters South Gujarat; PM, CM Review Flood Situation
At least 1,200 people have been rescued and hundreds more relocated to safer locations as torrential rain continued to lash southern Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the flood situation, with the Centre assuring full support for rescue and relief operations.
One rain-related death was reported from Tapi district. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the Coast Guard have been placed on alert as authorities scale up rescue and relief efforts.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Valsad district was the worst affected. Umbergaon taluka recorded over 1,100 mm of rainfall in just 16 hours from 6 a.m. on Wednesday to 10 a.m. on Thursday. Several other talukas in Valsad received more than 600 mm during the same period.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Valsad, Navsari, Dang, Surat, and Tapi districts for Thursday and Friday, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
The downpour disrupted transport and essential services across south Gujarat. Over 300 roads were temporarily closed, more than 200 Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation bus services were affected, and power outages were reported from several areas.
In Surat, fire department personnel used boats to rescue residents trapped in flooded localities, shifting at least 40 people from the Pandesara area to safety. Heavy rainfall was also recorded in Umarpada, Ambika, Palsana, and Mahuva talukas. Surat Collector Tejas Parmar said Umarpada, Bardoli, Mahuva, and Kamrej had particularly heavy rainfall.
Rain also lashed Ahmedabad city on Thursday, flooding several residential societies and forcing the closure of multiple underpasses, disrupting traffic.
Rail services were affected as several Mumbai-bound trains were cancelled or short-terminated due to rising water levels along railway tracks in south Gujarat. Western Railway set up help desks for passengers.
In Narmada district, heavy rains cut off several villages in Dediapada and Sagbara talukas after road connectivity was disrupted.
The IMD has also issued a red alert for Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar districts in central Gujarat, while 11 districts are under an orange alert and 10 under a yellow alert.
According to SEOC data, south Gujarat has already received over 62% of its average seasonal rainfall, while the state has received about 36% of its annual average rainfall so far this monsoon season.
Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar to assess the situation and spoke to Union Home Minister Shah, who assured full assistance for rescue and relief operations.
Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana said NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed across the affected districts, with additional personnel being mobilised as rainfall intensity increased. "The Air Force and Coast Guard are also on alert and people will be airlifted if necessary once weather conditions improve," Mr. Makwana told reporters.
He said around 1,200 people have been rescued so far. In Surat, nearly 1,500 residents have been shifted to safer locations, while in Navsari, around 200 people stranded in 11 villages due to the swelling Kaveri river have been rescued and relocated.
Senior officials, including district Collectors and mamlatdars, have been stationed in the affected areas to oversee relief operations. Surat currently has two NDRF and five SDRF teams deployed, while Valsad has two NDRF and four SDRF teams.
