Gujarat: CM Bhupendra Patel inspects waterlogged Bopal, orders immediate relief operations
Gandhinagar, July 22
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday visited the Bopal area to inspect the severe waterlogging caused by the heavy rainfall.
The Chief Minister held an on-site review meeting with officials and assessed the rainwater drainage, relief, and rescue operations.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, the Chief Minister personally reached the waterlogged area, visited the affected localities, and interacted directly with residents.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to accelerate the relief and rescue operations and ensure the immediate availability of the required manpower, equipment, and necessary arrangements.
Earlier in the day, heavy rainfall in South Gujarat had led to waterlogging in rural areas of Surat district, with the Kim River in spate following a massive inflow of water from upstream areas.
Traffic and normal life have been disrupted after the river overflowed onto roads and entered residential areas. Water from the Kim River has inundated the Gaikwadi Road connecting Kosamba to Kim in Surat's Mangrol taluka. The road has been completely closed to traffic after the river's water level rose above the danger mark. The strong current has made movement on the affected roads extremely hazardous.
Floodwaters have also entered nearby housing societies and residential localities, forcing residents to remain indoors due to waterlogging outside their homes. The administration is closely monitoring the situation and has urged people to avoid going near the river or venturing into floodwaters.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had rescued 67 people, including 25 women and 22 children, from floodwaters in Sarikhurad village of Gujarat's Navsari district.
According to the NDRF, the rescue operation was launched by the 6th Battalion after receiving information from the civil administration about villagers stranded due to flooding. The NDRF said rescue operations were underway.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi are continuously monitoring the flood situation. Sanghavi rushed to Navsari to assess the ground situation and directed officials to ensure there is no shortfall in rescue, relief, evacuation, and public safety measures.
To strengthen relief efforts and ensure timely rescue and assistance to affected citizens, the State Government has also deployed 10 senior officers to Valsad district with immediate effect.
Rescue operations in the flood-affected areas of Valsad district are underway with intensified efforts. To support the local administration, 70 Army personnel with five boats, five NDRF teams, five SDRF teams, and 25 Fire Brigade personnel have been deployed. More than 500 residents from the rural areas of Umargam, Vapi, Dharampur, and Pardi talukas have been shifted to safer locations.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Hats off to NDRF and the rescue teams! 🙏 Saving 67 people in Navsari, including women and children - that's real heroism. Also glad to see Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi rushing to Navsari. But honestly, we need better early warning systems in rural areas. People shouldn't be stranded like this. Development must include flood preparedness!
Bhai, the CM visiting Bopal is good PR, but what about the thousands suffering in Valsad and Surat? 🙄 70 Army personnel and 5 boats for an entire district? That's a joke! We need massive investment in stormwater drains and river management. The Kim River overflowing every year shows our planning is flawed. Wake up, Gujarat government!
This is heartbreaking to read. 😢 500+ people displaced from their homes in Valsad. The CM and Deputy CM should have been on the ground from day one, not just after things got bad. But I appreciate the 10 senior officers deployed - hope they are empowered to take quick decisions. Monsoon isn't a surprise - why aren't we better prepared every year? Climate change is real, and Gujarat needs a long-term flood action plan.
Respect to CM Bhupendra Patel for personally visiting Bopal in this weather. But the real test is whether this visit leads to permanent solutions. I live in Ahmedabad and our area floods every year despite promises. The administration should learn from cities like Mumbai which have better drainage systems. At least the rescue operations seem to be moving fast - NDRF doing a great job as always! 💪
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