NEW DELHI: Around 1,200 people have been rescued and hundreds more relocated as heavy rains battered south Gujarat, with Umbergaon taluka in Valsad district receiving over 1,100 mm of rainfall in just 16 hours, officials said on Thursday.One rain-related death was reported in Tapi district. The Indian Air Force and Coast Guard have been put on alert for rescue efforts, while NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed across the affected areas.Valsad district was the worst hit, with many talukas receiving over 600 mm of rain during the same period. A red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was in effect for Valsad, Navsari, Surat and Tapi districts.
Floodwaters submerge vehicles, roads in Vapi
Large parts of Vapi in Valsad district were inundated, with floodwaters submerging parked vehicles and disrupting normal life. Videos from the area showed waist-deep water in residential colonies and commercial areas, with people wading through the deluge.The Kaveri river in Navsari rose sharply, stranding 200 people across 11 villages. They were rescued and relocated to safety. In Surat, 1,500 residents were moved from low-lying areas and waterlogged localities.
Relief operations underway, CM reviews situation
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Centre and reviewed the situation, speaking to district collectors and instructing them to move people from vulnerable areas to safer places. He also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured all necessary assistance.Over 300 roads were temporarily closed, more than 200 state-run bus trips were affected, and power outages were reported in many areas.
Red alert continues, rescue teams on standby
The IMD has issued a red alert for Valsad, Navsari, Dangs, Surat and Tapi for Thursday and Friday. NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed across the affected districts, with additional teams on standby in Amreli, Junagadh and Bhavnagar.Several trains to Mumbai were cancelled or short-terminated due to rising water levels along rail routes in south Gujarat.The state has received around 36 per cent of its annual average rainfall so far, with south Gujarat recording over 62 per cent of its seasonal average.
