Gujarat rains: 40k shifted, 2,637 rescued, 5 dead

Heavy rains battered several parts of Gujarat on Friday, prompting massive relief and rescue operations, including those helmed by the Army and Coast Guard, resulting in the evacuation of more than 40,500 persons and the rescue of another 2,637, while five deaths were reported, officials said.

Officials said 49 teams, including NDRF personnel airlifted from Odisha as well as SDRF, Army and Coast Guard, were deployed in various districts, especially in Navsari and Valsad, which got some respite from the downpour after two days of extremely heavy rains.

The rain-related deaths occurred in Tapi, Valsad, Anand, Mehsana and Panchmahal districts, Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana said.

Mehmedabad in Kheda received 507 mm rain, followed by Dholka in Ahmedabad (473 mm), Chikhli in Navsari (451 mm), Umbergaon in Valsad (434 mm) and Khergam in Navsari (434 mm) in a 24-hour period ending at 6 am on Friday, as per State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) data.

Umbergaon taluka of Valsad, one of the worst-affected districts in south Gujarat, has received more than 1,300 mm rainfall in 48 hours till 6 am on Friday, the SEOC data showed.

In a 12-hour period till 6 am, Santalpur and Radhanpur in Patan district received 309- and 235-mm rain, respectively, while Bhabhar taluka in Vav-Tharad district received 180 mm rain.

Makwana told reporters that 17 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 32 SDRF teams were available for deployment and these were being mobilised based on requirements.

“Two Army columns have been conducting rescue operations in Banaskantha and Valsad since yesterday. One Army column each is deployed for relief and rescue operations in Ahmedabad city and rural areas, while four Army columns are stationed in Gandhinagar,” he added.

The process to give immediate financial assistance totalling `40 crore to affected persons has been started by the state government, Makwana said.

Officials said Indian Coast Guard choppers carried out an aerial survey of flood affected regions of Navsari, Valsad and Tapi and rescued people trapped in flood waters in Bilimora and Gandevi talukas.

The ICG deployed a helicopter in Navsari to airlift stranded salt pan workers and shrimp farmers, they added.

“At least 60 shrimp farmers were airlifted from a flood-hit remote area with the help of the Indian Coast Guard,” Navsari Collector Manish Gurwani said.

Gurwani said airlifting was the only viable option as the floodwaters were too deep for National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to carry out rescue operations.

Visuals shared by Gujarat Information Department showed ICG helicopters airlifting them from the tin roofs of settlements that were completely submerged in floodwaters.

The urban and rural areas of Ahmedabad witnessed heavy rains, with Dholka taluka being the worst affected. It led to several thousands being stranded in homes amid waterlogging on roads and underpasses, officials said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited Ahmedabad city to monitor the situation. He reviewed the rainwater drainage mechanism, interacted with residents and directed officials to expedite relief and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, authorities announced that schools and colleges would remain shut on Saturday as well.

Over 430 persons were shifted to safer places and around 40 stranded due to waterlogging were rescued, Ahmedabad Collector Bhavya Verma said.

Dholka taluka of the district was declared the most vulnerable and Army and NDRF teams have been deployed there, he said.

At least 100 residents were rescued by the Indian Army from Ahmedabad city’s upscale Bopal area.

In Valsad district, Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi instructed officials to take steps to restore normal life and also ordered allocation of additional staff on an immediate basis for cleanliness in municipal limits.

Navsari administration officials said more than 14,000 persons were evacuated to safety in the district in operations carried out by the Army, NDRF, SDRF and local volunteers.

Gujarat Police Director General of Police (DGP) GS Malik said GP-SMASH (Gujarat Police Social Media Monitoring, Analysis and Systematic Handling) team-initiated action on more than 15 posts seeking help amid rise in water levels.

In Surat, 4290 persons were evacuated, including 1631 in the city, while 228 were rescued, district officials informed.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘red’ alert on Saturday for various central and north Gujarat districts.

These include Kheda, Gandhinagar, Surendranagar, Mehisagar, Arvalli, Sabarkantha and Mehsana, while an ‘orange’ alert remained operational for Ahmedabad, Botad, Amreli, Rajkot, Morbi, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Chhota Udepur etc.

As per the IMD forecast, rain intensity is likely to ease from Monday onwards.

There is an ‘orange’ alert for Sabarkantha and Aravalli on Saturday, and Banaskantha and Sabarkantha on Sunday.

Several districts remain in ‘yellow’ alert zone on Saturday and Sunday, with possibility of isolated heavy rains, the IMD said in its forecast.