Over the past three days, at least 26 people have died in Gujarat due to heavy, continuous rainfall that has led to severe flooding across the state. Around 17,800 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas as the torrential rains persisted for the fourth day in a row on Wednesday.
The victims include seven people who were reported missing after a tractor trolley they were riding in was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village in the Halvad taluka of Morbi district on Sunday. The bodies of the missing have since been recovered, according to a police official.
Amidst the ongoing flooding in various parts of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assess the situation and assured that the central government would provide support to the state to handle the natural disaster.
On Wednesday, regions in the Saurashtra area, such as Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Porbandar, received between 50 mm and 200 mm of rain in a 12-hour period ending at 6 pm. During this period, Bhanvad taluka in Devbhumi Dwarka district received 185 mm of rainfall, the highest in the state.
Jamnagar District Collector Bahvik Pandya stated, “A red alert has been issued in Jamnagar for two days. In the last 24 hours, the area received approximately 400 mm of rain. Twenty-five dams are overflowing. Those without proper housing should move to shelters we have organized, where meals will be provided. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have rescued many people. The Army, Air Force, NDRF, and SDRF are working together.”
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas of districts in Saurashtra on Thursday.
IMD Scientist Ramashray Yadav mentioned, “The deep depression is located 50 km from Bhuj and 100 km from Naliya, moving at a speed of 12 km/hr. It is expected to reach the northeast Arabian Sea and adjacent areas of Saurashtra and Kutch on the morning of August 29. Due to this system, the Saurashtra and Kutch regions are likely to experience extremely heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall.”
He added that a red alert has been issued for all districts in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions, with warnings of extremely heavy rainfall continuing over the next few days.
Rescue teams, including the NDRF, SDRF, and three Army units, have been deployed to rescue and relocate people stranded in their homes and on rooftops in Vadodara city. Over 5,000 people have been evacuated and another 1,200 rescued in Vadodara so far, according to Minister Rushikesh Patel.
Chief Minister Patel has directed authorities to use cleaning equipment and spray disinfectants in Vadodara as soon as the floodwaters begin to recede. He has also called for additional teams from the municipal corporations of Ahmedabad and Surat, as well as municipalities in Bharuch and Anand, to be sent to Vadodara for this purpose.
The CM has also ordered the deployment of five additional NDRF teams and four Army units to assist with rescue and relief operations in Vadodara. More rescue boats are being sent from Ahmedabad and Surat to the affected city.
In addition to the NDRF and SDRF, the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard are conducting rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas, with around 17,800 people relocated and another 2,000 rescued so far, according to officials.
Responding to severe flooding in several districts, the Indian Army has swiftly mobilized its resources to support the ongoing relief efforts. Following a request from the Gujarat State Government, six Army units are carrying out rescue operations in the hardest-hit areas to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, Indian Army sources reported
Over the past three days, 26 people have died in rain-related incidents across Gujarat, including in the districts of Rajkot, Anand, Mahisagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Morbi, Junagadh, and Bharuch. On Tuesday alone, at least nine people died due to incidents like wall collapses and drowning. Seven people died in similar incidents on Monday, and three members of a family drowned after their car was swept away by floodwaters in Rajkot on Wednesday.
The bodies of seven people who went missing after a tractor trolley was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village in Morbi district were recovered earlier this week, said SP Rahul Tripathi.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CM Patel stated, “Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with me regarding the heavy rain situation in Gujarat and gathered details of the relief and rescue operations.” Modi provided guidance on protecting lives and livestock and assured all necessary support and assistance from the central government.
“Hon’ble Prime Minister is constantly monitoring the situation with concern for Gujarat. He has a deep affection for the people of Gujarat and always stands by the state during natural calamities and when needed,” the CM added.
As of the latest spell of rain, Gujarat has received 105% of its average annual rainfall, according to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC).
Many districts in the Saurashtra region, including Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Rajkot, experienced very heavy rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 6 am on Wednesday, SEOC data showed. Khambhalia taluka in Devbhumi Dwarka district received 454 mm of rainfall, followed by Jamnagar city with 387 mm and Jamjodhpur taluka in Jamnagar with 329 mm.
Thirteen of the state’s 251 talukas received more than 200 mm of rainfall, and another 39 received over 100 mm during this period. An official release stated that 140 reservoirs and dams, as well as 24 rivers in the state, were flowing above the danger marks, disrupting traffic and train movement due to flooded roads and railway lines.