Gujarat Rains Trigger Flood-Like Conditions with Severe Waterlogging, Centre Offers Assistance

Ahmedabad: Heavy rains over the weekend have caused severe flooding in several parts of Gujarat.

In response to the crisis, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi. Shah assured them that the central government is prepared to provide any necessary assistance to manage the situation.

Heavy Rainfall Causes Severe Flooding in Parts of Gujarat

Heavy rainfall led to severe flooding and waterlogging in South Gujarat's Valsad and Navsari districts. Continuous rains since Saturday caused rivers to overflow and dams to breach, halting the daily life. Several parts of Ahmedabad are also experiencing severe waterlogging issues, creating a flood-like situation making it difficult for people to commute.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, Vapi taluka in Valsad received 326 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours, the highest amount in the state. Khergam in Navsari received 248 millimeters of rain. As a result, more than 600 people from low-lying areas in Valsad were moved to safer locations.

Emergency Measures and Safefy Procedure

On Sunday morning, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel instructed officials to evacuate people from at-risk areas to keep them safe. The State Emergency Operation Center, led by Chief Secretary Rajkumar, held an urgent meeting on August 25 to plan for more heavy rains.

The Chief Secretary advised local officials to stay alert, especially in areas with large gatherings due to the festivals. He directed that officers and staff remain at their posts to manage the situation.

IMD Predicts ‘Very Heavy’ Rainfall in the State 

The India Meteorological Department has forecasted 'heavy to very heavy' rain for several areas, with some places possibly experiencing 'extremely heavy' rain. This includes parts of south Gujarat, such as Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, Navsari, and Valsad, as well as areas in the Saurashtra region, until Tuesday morning.

So far, North Gujarat has received about 65% of its average annual rainfall, and east-central Gujarat has received about 69%, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre data.