Gandhinagar, July 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) More than 22,000 people have been shifted to safer locations in Gujarat as authorities intensified rescue and relief operations following extremely heavy rainfall that has battered large parts of South and Central Gujarat over the past 24 hours.
According to the state government, more than 12,000 people have been evacuated in Valsad district and over 10,000 in neighbouring Navsari district, while rescue teams have brought more than 200 stranded people to safety in Valsad and over 50 in Navsari.
Government spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani said the state and central governments were working together to respond to the situation and that the entire administrative machinery had been mobilised to safeguard residents.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel by telephone today to obtain a detailed assessment of the situation and assured all necessary assistance from the Central Government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also remained in constant contact with the Chief Minister and the state administration while monitoring developments," he said.
The Chief Minister, along with Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Dr Jayanti Ravi, Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana, Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) Chief Executive Officer Dhaval Patel and other senior officials, has been monitoring the situation in real time from the State Emergency Operations Centre.
The minister expressed condolences on behalf of the state government following the death of one person who drowned in Tapi district.
He urged people not to attempt to cross rivers, streams, or causeways when water levels are high and appealed to residents to follow official advisories, avoid rumours circulating on social media, and seek assistance through the emergency contact numbers issued by the authorities whenever required.
Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana said: "A Red Alert had been issued for 11 districts, i.e. Dahod, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari and Valsad, where extremely heavy rainfall was expected to continue through the night. An Orange Alert has been issued for Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Kheda and Anand districts."
Providing an update on rainfall, Makwana said that between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., Khergam in Navsari received 16 inches of rain, Umarpada in Surat recorded 15 inches, and Umargam in Valsad received 14 inches.
"Three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and five State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were already operating in Valsad. Four additional NDRF teams provided by the Central Government were being airlifted to Surat, with two teams to be deployed in Valsad, one in Navsari and one in Surat. Two Army columns have also been dispatched to Valsad and Navsari to support rescue operations," he noted.
Source: IANS
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