Army steps up flood relief across Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli; 355 evacuated
Navsari, July 25
The Indian Army has rescued 355 people since launching flood relief operations in Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with troops continuing evacuations, medical assistance and the distribution of essential supplies in areas affected by heavy rainfall.
The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations began on the evening of July 23 under the Southern Command in response to widespread flooding caused by incessant rain.
The Army is working in coordination with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil administration, police and other agencies.
Seven Army Relief and Rescue Columns, including Engineer and Medical teams, have been deployed across the affected areas.
Two columns are operating in Navsari, one in the Valsad-Vapi region, three in Ahmedabad covering Ahmedabad city, Ahmedabad Rural and the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway, and one column has been deployed in Silvassa in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Additional Relief and Rescue Columns remain on standby at Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Jamnagar to respond to any further emergencies.
According to the Army, rescue teams have been carrying out continuous operations in flooded and inaccessible locations, evacuating stranded residents from submerged buildings and isolated settlements.
Medical teams have been providing immediate healthcare to those in need, while relief personnel have distributed food, drinking water and other essential supplies to people awaiting evacuation or the restoration of normal connectivity.
In Ahmedabad district, the Indian Army's Golden Katar Division said its personnel have been conducting continuous rescue operations at Rajoda village since 8:30 p.m. on the previous night.
The Army said that 82 civilians trapped for more than 40 hours in the Amazon warehouse and adjoining buildings at Rajoda village had been evacuated under "extremely challenging conditions".
Medical assistance has been provided to those requiring treatment, while relief teams have continued supplying food, water and other essential items to those affected.
The Golden Katar Division said rescue operations remain in progress, with Army personnel continuing efforts to evacuate all remaining stranded civilians.
The Army said the operations are being carried out in close coordination with the civil administration, the NDRF, the SDRF, police and other stakeholders to ensure timely rescue, relief and humanitarian assistance across the flood-affected districts.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While the rescue efforts are excellent, I worry about long-term preparedness. Every year we see floods in Gujarat, yet drainage systems are still inadequate. The Army cannot be our first line of defense every monsoon. Need better urban planning and early warning systems.
As someone from the US, I'm impressed by the coordination between Army, NDRF, SDRF, and local admin. The fact that teams are also providing medical care and distributing supplies shows a holistic approach. This is what effective disaster management looks like.
So proud of our jawans! 🫡 Working in "extremely challenging conditions" to save lives—this is real heroism. The rescue from the Amazon warehouse is especially touching. Hope everyone is safe now. Government should ensure compensation and rehabilitation for the affected families.
Excellent response from Southern Command, but why are we always reactive? Climate change means these events will become more frequent. Need permanent flood management plans, especially for low-lying areas in Navsari and Valsad. Good to see columns on standby in Vadodara though.
Amazing coordination between multiple agencies—Army, NDRF, SDRF, police, civil admin. Rescuing 355 people is no small feat. The medical assistance and supply distribution are also critical. Shows how well India's disaster response has improved over the years. Well done! 👏
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