Gujarat Dy CM directs round-the-clock monitoring, rescue readiness as heavy rain continues
Gandhinagar, July 7
The Gujarat government has directed all district administrations to remain on round-the-clock alert, deploy disaster response teams wherever required, and ensure the timely evacuation of residents from vulnerable areas as heavy to extremely heavy rainfall continued to affect several parts of the state over the past 24 hours.
The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi in Gandhinagar on Tuesday.
Conducted through video conference, the meeting reviewed the prevailing rainfall situation and the state's disaster management preparedness with senior officials from districts experiencing heavy rainfall.
Sanghavi held discussions with Collectors, Superintendents of Police, District Development Officers and Municipal Commissioners from Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Bhavnagar, Dahod, Panchmahal, Mahisagar, Mehsana, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Amreli, Dang, Tapi, Junagadh and Gir Somnath to assess the ground situation and the response measures being undertaken.
The Deputy Chief Minister instructed all district administrations to keep their control rooms operational 24 hours a day and ensure continuous monitoring of the evolving weather situation so that any emergency can be addressed without delay.
He directed officials to immediately deploy teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) wherever necessary, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Authorities were also instructed to evacuate residents from areas at risk of waterlogging or flooding to safer shelters in a timely manner, and to ensure the availability of food, drinking water, and medical facilities for those affected.
The meeting also reviewed the status of essential public services. Officials were instructed to continuously monitor roads, electricity supply and communication networks to minimise disruption to daily life and maintain public safety during the spell of heavy rainfall.
"The state government is continuously monitoring the situation. The safety and convenience of citizens during any disaster is the government's highest priority. All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that district administrations coordinate effectively and provide a swift response," Sanghavi said during the meeting.
Meanwhile, restoration work continued in Amreli district, where heavy rainfall disrupted electricity supply in 88 villages.
According to the government, 192 teams have been deployed to restore power in the affected areas. Despite adverse weather conditions, utility personnel restored 368 of the 370 affected feeders and reinstated more than 380 electricity poles.
The government said that 30 of the 32 affected transformers in Amreli and Gir Somnath have also been brought back into operation.
As a result of the restoration work, electricity supply has been restored in more than 80 villages, while efforts continue in the remaining affected areas.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive coordination between NDRF and state teams. Hope the evacuation plans are actually executed before the flooding gets worse. Floods in Gujarat always catch people off guard despite warnings.
Achha hai ki restoration work fast ho raha hai. 88 villages without power is serious. But why does this happen every year? Drainage infrastructure needs real improvement, not just emergency meetings. 😔
Good that they're monitoring Surat and other cities closely. But I hope the evacuation orders are actually followed and not just paperwork. People in low-lying areas need to be moved before water enters homes, not after.
It's good to see disaster preparedness being taken seriously. But I wonder about the smaller villages in hilly districts like Dang and Tapi. They're often neglected in such meetings. Hope they're included in the response plan.
As someone who lived through the 2005 floods in Gujarat, I appreciate this proactive approach. But can we also address why cities like Ahmedabad get waterlogged within hours of rain? Better urban planning needed along with rapid response. Dedicated officials, but systemic issues remain.
Restoring power in adverse weather is not easy. Salute to the 192 teams
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