Ahmedabad, Jul 31 (PTI) Several parts of central and south Gujarat received heavy rainfall on Friday with over 2,000 persons evacuated to safer places in Surat, the worst-affected district in the state, officials said.
A ‘red’ alert indicating extremely heavy rainfall has been declared in 13 districts, while an ‘orange’ alert for heavy rainfall has been declared in seven districts as per the latest forecast of India Meteorological Department, they said.
“Significant rainfall has been recorded in Narmada, Anand, Kheda, Chhota Udepur, Vadodara and Surat, among others. The situation is being continuously monitored,” state Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana said in a statement.
Many talukas in Surat, Kheda, Anand, Bharuch and Narmada received over
200 mm of rainfall in 14 hours between 6 am and 8 pm on Friday, according to State Emergency Operation Centre data.
Surat is the worst-hit district, with Ambika taluka recording 467 mm of rainfall during this period. Umarpada and Mangrol in the district got 254 mm and 253 mm, respectively.
“As a precautionary measure, a total of 2,062 citizens from low-lying areas have been safely evacuated to relief centres, where 121 citizens have been provided medical treatment on the spot by the medical team,” an official release of the Surat civic body stated.
Waterlogging was reported in 75 spots across Surat city, out of which 37 have been completely drained, while the work of draining the water is continuing in the remaining places, as per the release.
Schools and other educational institutions will remain closed on Saturday as a precautionary measure, said Surat municipal commissioner M Nagarajan.
Tapi district’s Dolvan received 345 mm of rainfall in 14 hours, followed by Navsari’s Vansada (336 mm), Bharuch’s Netrang (314 mm) and Valsad’s Dharampur (256 mm), SEOC data said.
Vaso taluka in Kheda district received 245 mm of rainfall in 14 hours till 8 pm, leading to waterlogging in several low-lying areas. The district’s Nadiad taluka received 227 mm of rainfall. People were seen walking in knee-deep water there.
Dang’s Subir taluka got 226 mm of rainfall taluka, leading to waterlogging.
“Due to the forecast of heavy rainfall in Dang district, as a precautionary measure, 311 students of Mahal Eklavya School were safely relocated to another school and necessary arrangements were made,” the official social media handle of Dang collectorate said in a post.
Several areas in Ahmedabad also received spells of rain amid a ‘red’ alert from Friday afternoon.
Relief Commissioner Makwana said 17 NDRF and 33 SDRF teams have been deployed in rain-affected areas across Gujarat.
In Vadodara district, three NDRF teams are on standby. Additionally, a database of available rescue boats and their operators in the district has been prepared to facilitate immediate rescue operations whenever required.
A red alert was issued for Friday for Narmada, Surat, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Bhavnagar and Botad districts, as per the IMD’s midday forecast.
On August 1, heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls is very likely in Ahmedabad, Anand, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Botad districts, the forecast noted.
Officials said the administration in Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Anand, Narmada, Tapi, Dang, Chhota Udepur, Panchmahal, Dahod and Mahisagar have been placed on high alert, officials said.
A holiday has been declared on Saturday for all educational institutions in several districts, they added. PTI KVM PD KRK BNM
