Since the onset of the monsoon in early June, Gujarat has been reeling under relentless rainfall, forcing large-scale evacuations and rescue operations across several districts.
Over the past month, 3,703 people have been evacuated from flood-prone areas, while 676 individuals have been rescued from life-threatening situations, state officials confirmed.
The rainfall intensified sharply over the weekend. Since Friday, Gujarat received over 16 inches of rain, with Devbhumi Dwarka recording the highest daily rainfall at approximately five inches till 4 PM on Saturday. Valsad followed closely with around four inches of rain, triggering flood alerts in vulnerable regions.
Worst-Hit Districts
Among the most affected, Bhavnagar district accounted for the highest number of evacuations, with 2,308 people moved to safer locations. Other districts facing significant evacuations include:
- Panchmahal – 500 people evacuated
- Surat – 266
- Vadodara – 173
- Surendranagar – 134
- Botad – 117
- Amreli – 80
- Narmada – 79
- Navsari – 44
- Tapi – 2
Rescue efforts have also been in full swing, especially in severely waterlogged areas. Surat alone accounted for 434 rescues, followed by:
- Bhavnagar – 128 rescued
- Amreli – 69
- Botad – 24
- Gandhinagar – 7
- Gir Somnath – 6
- Dahod – 4
- Sabarkantha – 3
- Navsari – 1
Disaster Response on Full Alert
To manage the crisis, the Gujarat government has ramped up its emergency operations. A total of 33 disaster response teams have been deployed, which include:
- 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams
- 20 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams
High-risk districts such as Rajkot, Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, and Devbhumi Dwarka have seen active deployment. Rajkot has received two NDRF teams, while one team each is stationed in Surat, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Kutch, Patan, and Porbandar.
The SDRF has mobilized 20 teams, with two teams in Vadodara and one each in Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch, Gir Somnath, Jamnagar, Navsari, Panchmahal, Botad, and Tapi, among others.
Additionally, two NDRF teams have been kept on reserve in Vadodara, and 13 SDRF teams remain stationed at the state headquarters for immediate deployment if the situation worsens.
Situation Remains Critical
As monsoon rains continue to lash the region, authorities remain on high alert. Emergency control rooms are active across all districts, and the government is urging residents in flood-prone areas to cooperate with evacuation and safety advisories.
The state continues to monitor water levels and rainfall patterns closely, with further showers expected in the coming days.