Continuous rain has wreaked havoc in Gujarat. So far 29 people have died in rain-related incidents and all the rivers and streams are in spate. There is no hope of any relief soon for rain and flood-ravaged Gujarat, as the Meteorological Department has predicted more rain. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for rain in 11 districts of Gujarat and a yellow alert in 22 districts today.
According to NDTV report, the weather department has issued an alert of very heavy rains till August 30. The weather department has forecast extremely heavy rains in isolated parts of Saurashtra districts on Thursday. The State Emergency Operation Center has said that with the fresh rains, Gujarat has received 105 per cent of its average annual rainfall so far. 29 people have died in rain-related incidents since the rains began on Sunday. About 18,000 people have been evacuated to safer places.
Water from the Ajwa and Pratappura reservoirs was released into the Vishwamitri river, causing flooding downstream. Parts of Vadodara and other towns and villages along the river were inundated with 10 to 12 feet of water.
Flood situation also persisted in Vadodara as water from the Vishwamitri river that flows through the city breached its banks and entered residential areas, submerging buildings, roads and vehicles.
An official statement said that 140 reservoirs and dams and 24 rivers in the state are flowing above the danger mark. Apart from the National and State Disaster Relief Forces, the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard have been called in for rescue and relief work. Many people are still to be evacuated from the flooded areas.
People struggling with floods, rain and hunger are forced to live in temporary sheds to stay safe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and assured all possible help. State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said that the government is considering diverting the flood water into the Narmada Canal instead of releasing it into the Vishwamitri river.
Red alert issued for heavy rain in 11 districts of Gujarat today
The weather department has issued a red alert for rain in 11 districts of Gujarat and a yellow alert in 22 districts, as heavy rains continue to lash the state due to a deep depression in the region, reports India Today. The weather department has issued a red alert for Kutch and Saurashtra regions, which include Kutch, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Girsomnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar. Similarly, a yellow alert has been issued for north Gujarat, central Gujarat and south Gujarat.
At least 15 people have died so far due to heavy rains in the region, while over 23,000 people have been evacuated and over 300 rescued.
Rescue operations are in full swing in the state, with over 6,000 people evacuated to safer places as water levels in rivers and dams rose amid rains across the state.
The weather department said that this depression will move west and southwest over Saurashtra and Kutch region and reach areas around Pakistan coast by August 29. The weather department further said that due to rains in Kutch and Saurashtra regions, there is a possibility of local flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas and closure of underpasses mainly in urban areas.
Gujarat government sought help from the army
Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has sought six columns of the Indian Army – one each in Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi and Rajkot districts – for relief operations. In addition, 14 columns of the National Disaster Response Force and 22 columns of the State Disaster Response Force have already been deployed to assist in disaster management efforts.
The road leading to the Statue of Unity is also broken: Images received from across the state show waterlogging and flood-like conditions at many places, with rescue workers continuing to evacuate people from flood-affected areas. Meanwhile, the road leading to the Statue of Unity in Vadodara also collapsed due to the rains.
The Meteorological Department said that on August 30, this depression will move from Kutch and Saurashtra region towards the Arabian Sea. However, it is likely to become temporary and slightly intense over the northeast Arabian Sea on August 30.
The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for rain in 11 districts of Gujarat on August 30, which includes Kutch, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Girsomnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar. At the same time, a yellow alert has also been announced for rain in Kutch, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Girsomnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli on August 31.
On September 1, the Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for rain in Navsari, Valsad, Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli in South Gujarat and a yellow alert in Bharuch, Surat, Tapi and Dang. The department has issued a yellow alert for rain only in Navsari, Valsad, Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli.
