Rainfall decreased in Gujarat on Thursday, leading to some improvement in the situation, but flood-like situation still persists in Vadodara and some other parts of the state as rivers are in spate. Officials are continuing relief and rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the state Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for the second consecutive day and took stock of the situation. He also asked the Chief Minister to take appropriate steps to prevent the spread of diseases after the floods.
Officials said 26 people have died in rain-related incidents in Gujarat in the last three days, till Wednesday. An update from the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) said more than 18,000 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas of Gujarat and about 1,200 people have been rescued. Security forces evacuated some people to safer places through helicopters.
The situation in Vadodara, the city most affected by the recent heavy rains, improved slightly as the water level of Vishwamitri river decreased to 32 feet from 37 feet in the morning. However, many low-lying areas of the city are still submerged.
Due to heavy rains and release of water from Ajwa dam, the water level of Vishwamitri river rose above the danger mark of 25 feet on Tuesday morning.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said in a post on the social media platform ‘X’, “It has been raining continuously in Gujarat for the last three days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called me today for the second consecutive day and inquired about the situation.”
He said, “The Prime Minister expressed concern over the flood in Vishwamitri river and also learned about the relief and rescue measures for the people of Vadodara.”
Patel said that the Prime Minister took information about the relief work in all the districts of the state and assured all possible help to the state. He also directed that proper cleanliness measures should be taken to prevent the spread of diseases after the floods.
Bhanvad in Devbhoomi Dwarka district recorded 295 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 6 am, while Abdasa in Kutch received 276 mm and Kalyanpur 263 mm. According to official data, 20 talukas in Gujarat received more than 100 mm rainfall during this period. Mandvi taluka in Kutch received 101 mm rainfall in four hours till 10 am.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains in the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch on Thursday.
Officials said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard along with the local administration are conducting relief and rescue operations in the worst flood-affected areas of the state, Vadodara, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Kutch.
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