At least 15 people died in various districts of Gujarat, while more than 23,000 people were evacuated and over 300 rescued as heavy rains continued to lash the coastal state.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a respite from the rain fury in the coming days as a deep depression hovering over Saurashtra-Kutch and North Gujarat regions is expected to leave the affected areas by Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, to speed up rescue and relief operations, the Gujarat government has deployed six Indian Army columns—one each in Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi and Rajkot districts.
Besides, 14 NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) platoons and 22 SDRF have already been deployed to assist in disaster management efforts.
Earlier on Tuesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupinder Patel had convened a high-level meeting to review the relief and rescue operations.
“The Chief Minister directed the District Collectors to take full vigilance and caution with the help of the police so that no one enters the rivers, drains and lakes overflowing as a result of heavy rains. Besides, the Meteorological Department specially But he urged district collectors of coastal areas to strictly follow the warning to fishermen not to go into the sea,” the chief minister's office said in a post on X.
Patel also received details of Army, Air Force, NDRF and SDRF personnel who are assisting the local administration in disaster management including rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to Bhupinder Patel about the rain situation in Gujarat and sought details of relief and rescue operations.
In a post on X, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with me about the heavy rain situation in Gujarat and received detailed details of relief and rescue operations. Gujrat was assured of providing all help and support to the people of Gujarat. They are always with the people of Gujarat standing by, providing warmth and invaluable guidance.”
15 people died in the rain storm
At least 15 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents since Monday.
According to details shared by the Gujarat government, at least one person died in Morbi, Vadodara, Kheda, Bharuch and Ahmedabad districts. While two people died in Gandhinagar and Mahisagar districts and six in Anand.
More than 12,000 people were evacuated on Tuesday in the two worst-hit states – Vadodara (8,361) and Panchmahal (4,000).
So far, more than 23,870 people have been evacuated to safer places and 1,696 have been rescued. Those evacuated in the last two days include 1,200 in Navsari, 800 in Valsad, 200 in Bharuch, 235 in Kheda and 200 in Botad districts.
Among those evacuated were 75 pregnant women — 45 in Vadodara and 30 in Devbhumi Dwarka district — who were shifted to nearby health centres.
Rivers violates the security mark.
Amid incessant rain in Gujarat, several rivers in the state have crossed the danger mark.
In the state's Bharuch district, several low-lying areas were inundated after the Narmada river crossed the 24-feet danger mark at the Golden Bridge following continuous inflow of dam water from adjoining Madhya Pradesh.
Similarly, in Vadodara district, more than 3,000 people living in low-lying areas were shifted to safer places after Vishwamatri river crossed the 25-feet danger mark on Tuesday morning.