15 Dead, 20,000 Evacuated as Heavy Rainfall Batters Gujarat

• Image Credit: Google

• Aug 28, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

The persistent rain has caused several rivers in Gujarat to exceed their danger levels. In Bharuch district, low-lying areas were submerged...

Digital Desk: At least 15 people have died as heavy rains continue to batter Gujarat, leading to the evacuation of over 23,000 individuals and the rescue of more than 300 across various districts. Although the rainfall intensity decreased on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for Gujarat, forecasting additional heavy downpours in the days ahead.

To expedite rescue and relief efforts, the Gujarat government has requested six Indian Army columns to be deployed—one in each of the districts of Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi, and Rajkot. Additionally, 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) platoons and 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are already active in supporting disaster management.

On Tuesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a high-level meeting to review ongoing relief and rescue operations. He directed District Collectors to exercise utmost caution and work closely with police to prevent anyone from entering overflowed rivers, drains, and lakes. The Meteorological Department has also advised coastal District Collectors to enforce warnings to fishermen to stay out of the sea, as per the Chief Minister's Office.

The Chief Minister has been briefed on the efforts of the Army, Air Force, NDRF, and SDRF personnel assisting with rescue and disaster management.

Casualties and Evacuations

Since Monday, at least 15 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents. The Gujarat government reports that one person has died in each of the districts of Morbi, Vadodara, Kheda, Bharuch, and Ahmedabad, two in Gandhinagar and Mahisagar, and six in Anand.

On Tuesday alone, more than 12,000 people were relocated in Vadodara (8,361) and Panchmahals (4,000), which are among the hardest-hit areas. In total, over 23,870 people have been moved to safety, and 1,696 have been rescued. Recent evacuations include 1,200 in Navsari, 800 in Valsad, 200 in Bharuch, 235 in Kheda, and 200 in Botad. Among those evacuated were 75 pregnant women—45 from Vadodara and 30 from Devbhumi Dwarka—who were relocated to nearby health centers.

River Flooding

The persistent rain has caused several rivers in Gujarat to exceed their danger levels. In Bharuch district, low-lying areas were submerged as the Narmada River surpassed the danger mark of 24 feet at Golden Bridge due to ongoing dam water inflows from Madhya Pradesh. Similarly, in Vadodara district, over 3,000 residents in low-lying areas were relocated after the Vishwamitri River crossed the danger mark of 25 feet early Tuesday morning.