Heavy Rains in Gujarat: Red Alert in 11 Districts, NDRF and SDRF on High Alert
News Highlights:
- Red alert issued for 11 districts; yellow alert for 22 districts.
- At least 15 fatalities and 23,000 evacuated as heavy rains continue.
- Rescue operations in full swing with support from NDRF, SDRF, and Army.
- Depression expected to move out of Gujarat by August 30.
Ahmedabad:
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for 11 districts in Gujarat, including Kachchh and the Saurashtra region, as heavy rains continue to pound the state. The affected districts under the red alert are Kachchh, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Girsomnath, Amreli, and Bhavnagar. A yellow alert has been issued for North, Central, and South Gujarat.
At least 15 people have died, over 23,000 have been evacuated, and more than 300 have been rescued from various districts due to severe flooding caused by continuous heavy rains. Rescue operations are in full swing, with over 6,000 individuals relocated to safer locations as water levels in rivers and dams continue to rise.
The IMD has warned of potential localized flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and closure of underpasses, particularly in urban areas of the Kachchh and Saurashtra regions. The depression is expected to move westwards across Saurashtra and Kachchh and reach the adjoining areas of the Pakistan coast by August 29. It is likely to move out of the Kachchh and Saurashtra regions towards the Arabian Sea by August 30. However, a temporary intensification over the northeast Arabian Sea is possible on August 30.
In response, the Gujarat government has requested six Indian Army columns to assist in relief operations—one each in Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi, and Rajkot districts. Additionally, 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) platoons and 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) platoons have been deployed to aid in disaster management efforts.
Visuals from across the state depict extensive waterlogging and flooding, with rescue personnel evacuating residents from flood-affected areas. The road leading to the Statue of Unity in Vadodara has also been damaged due to heavy rains.
The IMD has further issued a yellow alert for rain in 11 districts on August 30, including Kachchh, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Girsomnath, Amreli, and Bhavnagar. For August 31, the alert extends to additional districts including Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli.
Also Read: Heavy Rains in Vapi - 300+mm
A red alert has been announced for September 1 in Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra Nagar Haveli, while a yellow alert remains in effect for Bharuch, Surat, Tapi, and Dang. Continuous monitoring and updates will be provided as the situation develops.