Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the phone and took stock of the situation arising due to heavy rainfall in the state.
The Prime Minister assured all possible assistance from the Centre for relief and rescue operations and the safety of citizens in view of the heavy rains.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding relief and rescue operations amid the heavy rainfall situation in Gujarat.
The Union Home Minister assured the state of all necessary assistance in this regard.
Flood-like situation in Gujarat’s Navsari district as all major rivers are in spate. Heavy flow reported in the Kaveri, Ambika, Kharera and Purna rivers. A total of 218 internal roads have been closed due to waterlogging and flooding. Water has entered homes and temples along the Kaveri River.
With extremely heavy rainfall lashing South Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has deputed senior ministers and officials to oversee relief work.
According to the Commissionerate of Information, CM Bhupendra Patel has deputed Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, Tribal Development Minister Naresh Patel, and senior secretaries to assist the administration in Surat, Valsad, and Navsari districts affected by heavy rainfall. In-charge secretaries have been instructed to immediately reach districts under Red Alert for rain-related preparedness and response.
South Gujarat districts remained on high alert on Thursday as extremely heavy rainfall triggered waterlogging, river swelling, and large-scale evacuations, with authorities issuing red alerts and closing schools and colleges across Surat, Navsari and Valsad.
The India Meteorological Department has issued rain warnings across Gujarat, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall in several districts over the next three days, prompting district administrations and the Surat Municipal Corporation to launch 24×7 relief and rescue operations.
Surat city is under a Red Alert due to heavy rainfall. District Collector Tejas Parmar said the administration is “fully on alert” for Surat district, with heavy rainfall expected between 10:00 PM Wednesday and 4:00 AM Thursday.
“Evacuation of people from low-lying areas has begun by NDRF and relief teams. Appeal to residents of low-lying areas to fully cooperate with the administration. Avoid rumours; trust only news validated by the government,” Parmar posted on X.
The Surat Municipal Corporation deployed teams for rapid drainage in key areas. At Monarch Junction on Pal Gaurav Path Road in Rander Zone, SMC workers launched operations to clear rainwater.
In Athwa Zone, immediate de-watering operations were undertaken to eliminate waterlogging and restore normal life.
Relief centres set up by SMC are providing continuous assistance. Milk and food packets were distributed in the morning to residents relocated from affected areas. Medical teams are also conducting health check-ups and monitoring at the centres.
In a timely rescue, 11 residents, including children, were safely evacuated from the Krishna Nagar area of Pandesara village and shifted to a secure location, officials said.
In view of the heavy rainfall situation in Valsad, the Commissionerate of Information announced that all factories and industrial units in the district will remain closed on Thursday.”Priority to workers’ safety and public interest; instructions to retain only minimal staff for essential services,” the statement said.
The district administration also appealed to citizens to “stay at a safe place and not to step out of their homes without any reason.” Collector and District Development Officer have requested that, except for extremely essential work, people should not step out and must follow instructions issued from time to time.
All schools in Valsad district have been declared closed on Thursday, July 23.
In Pardi taluka, 103 people were safely relocated from low-lying villages after water entered homes. The affected included 6 people from Kumbhariya, 9 from Palsana, 39 from Tighara, 11 from Bagwada, 6 from Umarsadi and 32 from Amli.
The District Disaster Management Control Room is monitoring the situation round the clock.
According to IMD, authorities have advised people to check local traffic updates before travelling and avoid waterlogged areas and underpasses. During thunderstorms, residents have been advised to stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed, unplug sensitive electronic equipment and avoid taking shelter under trees.
Residents living in old or dilapidated buildings and those near riverbanks have been advised to move to safer locations. Fishermen have also been advised against venturing into the sea as fishing activities may be severely disrupted.