Heavy Rains Batter Gujarat, Thousands Evacuated

Heavy Rains Batter Gujarat, Thousands Evacuated

Inundating rains lashed Gujarat on Monday, leading to the evacuation of over 4,300 people in Vadodara, Navsari, Valsad, and Surat. The relentless downpour prompted district administrations to announce school and college closures for Tuesday.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel urged citizens to stay away from overflowing rivers and channels, highlighting the dangers posed by the heavy rainfall. He appealed for cooperation with rescue and relief operations undertaken by the administration.

The worst affected districts were Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Navsari, and Panchmahal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, signifying extremely heavy rainfall, for the entire state on Monday. This alert remains in effect for Saurashtra, including Kutch, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Tapi, Navsari, and Valsad districts on Tuesday.

Ahmedabad city witnessed over 5 inches of rainfall by 6 pm. The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) successfully rescued 25 passengers from a bus that got stuck in a flooded underpass at Parimal Junction. The bus was traveling from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, to Rajkot in Gujarat.

Throughout the day, heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding, impacting even posh neighborhoods like Sindhu Bhawan Road. Firefighters responded to at least 22 tree collapses across the city.

Two incidents of house collapse were reported on Monday afternoon. In Dabgarwad, a portion of a two-story house caved in. Fortunately, AFES personnel rescued three people safely from the residence. Another incident involved a balcony slab collapsing due to rain in the Nehru Nagar area’s Ojas Apartment. Thankfully, there were no injuries.

With the River Vishwamitri flowing above the danger mark, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials shifted 1,500 people from low-lying areas to safer locations. The city received over 200 mm of rainfall between 8 am and 6 pm on Monday, following heavy overnight rain. As a result, the River Vishwamitri rose steadily throughout the day, further exacerbated by the substantial inflow of water from the Ajwa Dam and the Pratappura Reservoir.

VMC Commissioner Dilip Rana and Mayor Pinky Soni issued video messages urging residents to stay in safe locations due to the potential for a flood situation. They advised people not to venture out unless absolutely necessary and highlighted the dangers posed by fallen trees, live wires, and potentially venomous snakes lurking in floodwaters.

Evacuations in Vadodara began on Sunday itself, with the VMC shifting 1,500 people to 16 schools. An additional 14 schools were designated as standby shelters if needed. Similarly, heavy rainfall in South Gujarat led to rising water levels in rivers. The Navsari district administration evacuated 1573 people to safer places.

Surat and Valsad district administrations also evacuated residents from low-lying areas. Food, medicine, and other essential supplies were provided to those displaced by the flooding.

Heavy rain caused widespread school closures. The District Education Officer (DEO) of Vadodara issued a circular directing schools and colleges to remain closed on August 27 due to the flood-like situation. In Surat, the DEO announced a holiday for primary schools, while secondary and higher secondary schools located near rivers and low-lying areas were advised to make closure decisions based on the situation on Tuesday.

With the rising water level in the Tapi River, Surat witnessed flooding in low-lying areas like Katargam, West Zone, and Central Zone. The Municipal Commissioner advised residents in these areas to remain vigilant and stay indoors. Authorities are in constant contact with the Ukai dam authorities to monitor water discharge and manage the situation effectively.

The rising water levels in rivers across Navsari district prompted the closure of 119 roads, including three state highways and other inter-village connecting roads. All three rivers in the district, Ambika, Kaveri, and Purna, breached their danger levels. The district administration evacuated over 1500 people residing near the overflowing rivers, providing them with food, medicine, and shelter.

Valsad district witnessed similar efforts, with authorities evacuating over 1150 people from low-lying areas and riverbanks. District officials urged residents to remain indoors and avoid venturing out unnecessarily due to the ongoing heavy rainfall.

The Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) authorities released a significant amount of water from the dam to manage water levels. The dam has been receiving substantial inflows from upstream in Madhya Pradesh due to hydropower generation activities at the Indirasagar and Omkareshwar dams.

While Gujarat grapples with the aftermath of heavy rainfall, the state remains vigilant and continues relief efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.