Surat Floods Claim 21 Lives, Police Warn Toll May Rise After Record Rains
At least 21 people have died in Surat due to flooding following record rainfall earlier this week, with police warning that the toll could increase as floodwaters recede and more bodies are discovered.
The Surat city police confirmed that 11 bodies were recovered on a single day from the creek area, including two brothers and a one-and-a-half-year-old girl. The deaths occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday, with many victims drowning in swollen creeks and rivers.
According to Surat Municipal Commissioner M Nagarajan, the city received 30 per cent of its annual rainfall in just one week. Since Monday, nearly 3,600 people have been rescued, and over 4,100 have been moved to relief centres.
Among the victims were Harun Ansari (21) and Faruk Ansari (18), sons of property broker Amir Ansari, who lost both his sons. The brothers went missing while returning home from work on Wednesday night. Their bodies were found the next day floating near a neighbouring society. Amir Ansari, inconsolable, told reporters that Harun was engaged and was to be married next year.
Other incidents include the recovery of three bodies from Dindoli area—identified as Sandesh Rajbhar (44), Pranay Navin Thakur (18), and an unidentified man aged around 25. Another body, of Prashant Kapre (58), was found near Kavita Medical Store. All died from drowning in creek floods.
A one-and-a-half-year-old girl, Laxmi Mandal, was washed away in the Tapi River while playing near her home on Tuesday. Her body was recovered by Amroli police.
In Pandesara, two minors—Satyam Shrinivas (16) and Anubhav Dharmendra Kori (9)—drowned in separate incidents. Their bodies were recovered from the Bhedwad creek banks.
Police have registered accidental death complaints and post-mortem examinations confirmed drowning as the cause of death. Authorities continue search operations as floodwaters recede, and the toll is expected to rise.
