The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Gujarat, forecasting more heavy rainfall in the coming days. In response, authorities have ordered the closure of schools on Tuesday. So far, 17,827 people have been evacuated, and 1,653 rescued from flood-affected areas after heavy downpours on Monday.
Certain regions recorded between 200 and 300 mm of rainfall on Monday, resulting in severe waterlogging in cities like Vadodara and Ahmedabad. The deluge led to the closure of waterlogged underpasses and caused significant traffic disruptions in Ahmedabad.
In a tragic incident, a tractor carrying 17 passengers was swept away while crossing a bridge in Dhavana on Sunday. Nine people managed to escape by swimming to safety, while eight are still missing. Additionally, five individuals in an auto-rickshaw were washed away in Ghanad; four were rescued, but one woman remains unaccounted for as of late Monday. A herdsman was also swept away in Butvada village on Sunday evening.
The state government has deployed 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to the flood-hit districts for rescue and relief operations.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel convened a meeting in Gandhinagar to evaluate the situation and visited the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). He also held a virtual conference with district collectors, municipal commissioners, and other officials from the affected areas.
In a post on X, Patel mentioned that Union Home Minister Amit Shah contacted him to discuss the rainfall situation in Gujarat. Shah assured Patel that additional central assistance, including more forces for rescue, relief, and disaster management, would be provided if needed.
An SEOC official stated that data is still being compiled, and the death toll is yet to be confirmed. The monsoon has been particularly active in Gujarat, with the state receiving 91.88% of its average seasonal rainfall.
Of Gujarat’s 206 reservoirs, 59 are at full capacity, and a high alert has been issued for 72 reservoirs. Seven rivers in the state are currently overflowing, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam is at 88.74% of its total storage capacity.
Officials also reported that electricity has been restored in 6,977 of the 7,009 villages affected by the heavy rains. In addition, 523 roads have been closed in areas like Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, Dang, and Chhota Udaipur due to flooding.
