Seven missing as heavy rains disrupt Gujarat, CM holds urgent meeting to assess impact
AHMEDABAD: A tractor-trolley was swept away by a flooded river in Gujarat, with 10 people rescued and 7 still missing.
On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held urgent discussions with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi as heavy rainfall continues to batter the region.
On August 25, 17 individuals were left stranded when a tractor-trolley overturned near Dhavana village in Morbi due to heavy rainfall. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) swiftly launched a search and rescue operation upon receiving reports.
Morbi Collector KB Jhaveri explained that the tractor's trolley capsised while crossing a flooded causeway, causing the incident. SDRF teams have so far rescued 10 people, with ongoing efforts to locate and assist the remaining individuals.
Collector Jhaveri stated, "Heavy rains caused significant water flow over the causeway, leading to the overturning of the trolley. We have rescued 10 of the 17 stranded individuals and are working diligently to reach the others."
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel convened a high-level meeting at the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar to evaluate the effects of the heavy rains battering the state.
Patel conducted a video conference with collectors, municipal commissioners, and district officials from the affected areas to gather critical updates. During the session, Patel emphasised the urgent need for the safe evacuation of residents from low-lying areas and instructed officials to prioritise preventing loss of life and livestock.
According to a press release from government officials, In Gujarat, a massive rescue and evacuation effort is underway as severe flooding impacts the state.
To date, 17,827 people have been evacuated and 1,653 rescued. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 13 teams, while 22 teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are actively involved in rescue and relief operations across the affected districts.
Rainfall has affected 244 talukas across 33 districts, with an average precipitation of 63.36 mm over the recent period. Khergam in Navsari district recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours with 356 mm. On August 26, between 6 am and 12 pm, Morwa Hadaf in Panchmahal received 157 mm of rainfall. Seasonal rainfall across Gujarat has reached 91.88 per cent of the average.
Out of 206 reservoirs in the state, 59 are at full capacity. Currently, 72 reservoirs are on high alert, 22 are on regular alert, nine are under flood warning, and seven rivers have overflowed. The Sardar Sarovar Dam holds 88.74% of its total storage capacity, equating to 296,459 million cubic feet of water.
The state has faced power disruptions affecting 7,009 villages. Of these, power has been restored to 6,977 villages, and 5,961 out of 6,090 damaged power poles have been repaired.
Additionally, 523 roads remain closed across Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, Dang, and Chotaudepur districts due to the severe weather conditions.