Watch: Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar Witness Severe Waterlogging As Heavy Rain Batters Gujarat

Heavy rainfall triggered flash-flood situation in several districts of Gujarat, forcing authorities to take hundreds of residents to safer locations. Navsari in particular experienced severe flooding, leading the IMD to issue a “red alert” for the district on Monday. Parts of Narmada, Sirendranagar, Rajkot, Tapi, Mahisagarand Morbi, Dahod and Vadodara were among other districts that received over 100 mm of rainfall.

Also Read: Heavy Rainfall Triggers Flood-like Situation In Kutch, Gandhinagar Inundated; IMD Issues Red Alert | Top Updates

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted ‘heavy to very heavy’ rainfall in Gujarat districts, including Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Amreli and Bhavnagar till Tuesday morning.

NDRF operation in Valsad, Morbi

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Monday carried out relief and rescue operation in Valsad after heavy rains cause flood-like situation.

“The water level increased in the morning due to which water entered the Hanuman Bhagda and Valsad area and the road connectivity got disrupted. We rescued a pregnant woman and we are distributing food and relief material…” NDRF inspector Ramesh Kumar said to ANI.

A search operation by NDRF is underway in Gujarat’s Morbi district to trace seven persons swept away along with their tractor trolley while crossing a flooded causeway on a river amid heavy rains, an official said on Monday. Ten out of 17 persons on board the tractor-trolley were rescued in an overnight operation near Dhavana village.

Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar inundated

Parts of Ahmedabad and capital city Gandhinagar have also been inundated leading to waterlogged streets being closed down, flooding and infrastructural damage. In Kutch, the Nakhtrana – Lakhpat Highway was waterlogged amid heavy rainfall which triggered a flood like situation in the region.

280 people shifted in Bharuch

As many as 280 people were shifted to safer places from the low-lying area in Gujarat’s Bharuch city after nearly 4 lakh cusecs water was released into the Narmada river from Sardar Sarovar Dam, officials said on Monday.

Following a huge inflow of water from Omkareshwar dam in Madhya Pradesh upstream of Narmada, the Sardar Sarovar’s water storage on Monday touched a height of 135.20 meters, just 3.48 meters less than its full capacity of 138.68 meters, a release by the state government stated.

The dam, situated near Kevadia in Narmada district, is receiving 3.68 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) water and 3.95 lakh cusecs were released in the river, it said.

Several hundred people were shifted to safety in Valsad and Navsari districts as heavy rains lashed southern Gujarat district over the weekend. As per data from the State Emergency Operation Centre, Khergam taluka in Navsari district recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours with 356 mm, ending at 6 am on Monday.

Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel has directed officials to evacuate residents from low-lying areas to safer locations. His office said that the districts most affected by the heavy rainfall include Valsad, Tapi, Navsari, Surat, Narmada, and Panchmahal in South Gujarat.

In view of heavy rain and floods in Gujarat, union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Patel and took a briefing about the current situation and assured all possible help from the central government.

(With inputs from agencies)