Gujarat Battles Heavy Rain: Evacuations, Dam Releases, and Rescue Ops

Flood alerts, dam releases and evacuations mark Gujarat's battle with heavy rain

Gandhinagar, Aug 1

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Jayanti Ravi visited the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar. He chaired a review meeting with officials to assess the rainfall situation and flood preparedness across the state.

During the meeting, all district collectors were instructed to maintain close surveillance of low-lying areas, rivers and reservoirs and ensure precautionary measures and planning to respond to any emergency.

In Surat district, more than 4,000 residents from affected rural areas were safely evacuated following heavy rainfall, with SDRF teams deployed in Olpad and Mandvi. The district recorded around eight inches of rain over the past 24 hours.

Rising water levels in the Kim River led to the evacuation of residents from low-lying areas of Olpad and Mangrol. At the same time, the District Collector appealed to people living along the riverbanks to move to safer locations in time.

Earlier in the day, authorities had also evacuated more than 240 residents from low-lying areas of Abrama, Velanja, Amroli, Umra and Kathor. They were shifted to a relief centre at Velanja Primary School, where food, drinking water, electricity and medical facilities have been arranged.

Heavy rain also damaged infrastructure in Surat, where around 40 metres of the Tapi riverside road near Savji Korat Bridge in Mota Varachha collapsed and developed major cracks.

Deputy Divisional Warden Ashish Vadodariya and his team barricaded a 100-metre stretch of the road, and around 250 to 300 vehicles were diverted through an alternative route, preventing any untoward incident.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also carried out rescue operations in Bilimora in Navsari district after receiving information that several people were trapped in Giriraj Nagar Society.

A team from the 6th Battalion rescued and evacuated 114 people, including 56 men, 41 women and 17 children, along with two livestock.

The operation began on Friday evening and concluded later that night on the directions of the district administration. In Chhota Udepur district, 49 residents from the low-lying areas of Motavanta and Rajvasana villages in Bodeli taluka were shifted to safer locations.

In Vadodara district, rising water levels in the Dhadhar River led to the evacuation of 79 residents from Rajli and Behrampura villages in Dabhoi taluka to a local school, where the administration arranged food, drinking water and other essential supplies.

Authorities also issued a series of public advisories as reservoir levels continued to rise.

Machhu-2 Dam in Morbi reached full capacity, prompting officials to announce the opening of four gates by six feet to release 14,058 cusecs of water into the Machhu River. At the same time, the reservoir continued receiving an inflow of 14,638 cusecs.

A high alert was issued for Morbi city and 32 downstream villages, with residents urged to remain vigilant.

In Surendranagar district, Nayka Dam reached full capacity, leading officials to advise residents of Gautamgadh, Kukda, Godavari, Shekhpar and other riverside areas to avoid riverbeds and move livestock and belongings to safer locations.

Bhogavo-2 (Dholidhaja) Dam also overflowed, prompting alerts for residents of Surendranagar city, Wadhwan, Joravarnagar, Ratanpar and several nearby villages.

Authorities urged people living near the river to stay away from the riverbed and strictly follow official instructions. In Morbi district, the Jikiyari causeway was closed after water was released from Ghodadhroi Dam.

In Bharuch district, overtopping at the Bhukhi creek forced the closure of the Vagra-Dayadra road from the Argama side. At the same time, flooding also closed the Trankal-Aladar road in Vagra taluka.

Officials said alternative routes remained operational and no villages had been cut off. Meanwhile, the Irrigation Department reported that Umiyasagar Dam in Jamnagar district was 54.69 per cent full and Ranjitsagar Dam was at 36.13 per cent capacity.

The district's 25 major reservoirs together held 1,510.32 million cubic feet of water, equivalent to 11.51 per cent of total storage capacity.

The district has received an average of 7.7 inches of rainfall this monsoon, with Jamjodhpur taluka recording the highest rainfall at 11.37 inches.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall on Saturday in Ahmedabad, Anand, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Botad and Bhavnagar districts, with authorities continuing to monitor the evolving situation closely.

— IANS