Torrential rains have caused devastation in South Gujarat. There is red alert in Surat, Navsari and Valsad. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has sent ministers for relief work. Rivers are above the danger mark and thousands of people have been evacuated to safer places.
Surat (Gujarat) [भारत]July 23 (ANI): Amid extremely heavy rains lashing South Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has deployed senior ministers and officials to oversee relief operations. According to the Information Commissionerate, CM Bhupendra Patel has sent Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel and senior secretaries to assist the administration in Surat, Valsad and Navsari districts affected by heavy rains. Secretaries in-charge have been instructed to immediately reach red alert districts for rain-related preparation and response.
Red alert in South Gujarat
Districts in south Gujarat remained on high alert on Thursday as extremely heavy rains led to waterlogging, swollen rivers and mass evacuation of people to safer places. Authorities have issued a red alert and closed schools and colleges in Surat, Navsari and Valsad. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rainfall warning across Gujarat, predicting extremely heavy rainfall in several districts in the next three days, following which the district administration and Surat Municipal Corporation have launched 24×7 relief and rescue operations.
Administration fully alert in Surat
Surat city is on red alert due to heavy rains. District Collector Tejas Parmar said the administration is on “full alert” for Surat district, where heavy rain is expected between 10:00 pm on Wednesday and 4:00 am on Thursday. “Evacuation of people from low-lying areas has begun by NDRF and relief teams. Residents of low-lying areas are appealed to fully cooperate with the administration. Avoid rumours; rely only on news verified by the government,” Parmar posted on Twitter.
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has deployed teams for rapid drainage in key areas. At Monarch Junction on Pal Gaurav Path Road in the render zone, SMC workers conducted a campaign to clean rain water. In Athwa Zone, immediate de-watering operations were carried out to eliminate waterlogging and restore normal life. Continuous assistance is being provided in the relief centers set up by SMC. Milk and food packets were distributed in the morning to residents shifted from the affected areas. Medical teams are also conducting health checks and monitoring at the centres. In a timely rescue operation, 11 residents, including children, were rescued from Krishna Nagar area of Pandesara village and shifted to a safe place, officials said.
Situation worsened in Navsari
Navsari district is also on red alert. District Collector Manish Gurwani said that the district has received an average of 6.5 inches of rain in the last 24 hours. Chikhali and Vansda recorded about 10 inches of rain each, while Khergam received about 8 inches of rain. “Kaveri river has crossed its danger mark of 19 feet and is currently flowing at 21 feet. Ambika is also flowing above the danger level, while Purna is close to it,” Gurwani said during a review from the District Emergency Operation Centre.
Rivers and dams at danger mark
The Juj Dam has overflowed, and the Keliya Dam is close to overflowing. Officials have asked residents of both the dams and villages along the river banks to avoid going near water and follow administrative instructions. Red alert has been issued in the district for the next 3 hours.
So far, around 1000 people have been shifted to shelter homes, where food and medical facilities have been arranged. Two SDRF teams have been deployed in Navsari and Bilimora and are on standby. As a precautionary measure, all Anganwadis, primary and secondary schools, colleges and ITIs in the district remained closed on Wednesday and will also remain closed on Thursday, July 23, 2026. Online classes can continue. “Purna river is flowing very close to the danger mark. We request people to remain alert and follow the administration’s instructions for relocation,” the collector posted.
Impact of heavy rain in Valsad also
In view of the heavy rain conditions in Valsad, the Information Commissionerate announced that all factories and industrial units in the district will remain closed on Thursday. “Priority to the safety of workers and public interest; instructions to maintain only minimum staff for essential services,” the statement said. The district administration also appealed to citizens to “stay in a safe place and not come out of their homes without any reason.” The Collector and District Development Officer have requested that except for extremely essential work, people should not go out and follow the instructions issued from time to time. Thursday, July 23, has been declared a holiday in all schools of Valsad district.
In Pardi taluka, 103 people were shifted to safety from low-lying villages after water entered their houses. The affected included 6 people from Kumbhariya, 9 from Palsana, 39 from Tighra, 11 from Bagwada, 6 from Umarsi and 32 from Amli.
Rescue work and advisory continue
A portion of the railway track near Khadki village in Pardi was washed away, and repair work was immediately started after informing the railway authorities. In a quick operation early on Wednesday, the administration rescued a private bus from Nashik stuck in flood waters at Ambheti in Nanaponda. About 16 passengers were evacuated safely. Later, barricades were put up and the route was closed for traffic.
The District Disaster Management Control Room is monitoring the situation round the clock. According to the IMD, officials have advised people to check local traffic updates before traveling and avoid waterlogged areas and underpasses. During the typhoon, residents have been advised to stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed, unplug sensitive electronic devices and avoid sheltering under trees. Residents living in old or dilapidated buildings and near river banks have been advised to move to safer places. Fishermen have also been advised not to venture into the sea as fishing activities may be seriously disrupted. (ANI)
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