Gujarat: NDRF evacuates 85 people in Surat amid heavy rainfall
Surat, July 8
The National Disaster Response Force teams on Wednesday carried out rescue operations and successfully evacuated 85 individuals, including 36 males, 27 females, and 22 children, at the Sriram Nagar Society, Surat, Gujarat.
The rescue operation comes as Surat reels under the havoc of floods, with people stranded in rising waters on all sides. As the deluge intensifies for the second consecutive day, thousands remain stuck on the roads; while the administration is working to evacuate them, it appears overwhelmed and helpless.
More than half the city is submerged, and most areas have been cut off from connectivity.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'Red Alert' with lightning and thunderstorms with gusty winds with an estimated speed of around 60 kmph and heavy rainfall in Amreli, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Botad, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman, Dangs, Diu, Gir Somnath, Narmada, Navsari, Surat, Tapi, Vadodara, and Valsad districts.
The IMD also released an 'Orange Alert' with lightning and thunderstorms with gusty winds with an estimated speed of around 40-60 Kmph for Ahmedabad, Anand, Chhota Udepur, Dahod, Junagarh, Khera, Panchmahal, Rajkot, and Surendranagar.
The IMD has advised the residents in the affected areas to stay alert and take necessary precautions. Citizens are advised not to take shelter under trees or weak structures, etc., to keep a check on the road and traffic conditions, to avoid unnecessary travel, and to follow any other advisories issued by concerned agencies.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel following heavy rainfall and assured them of all possible support from the Centre.
The Home Minister took stock of the situation arising due to persistent monsoon showers that battered both states, affecting normal life.
Continuous heavy rainfall has severely affected normal life in several parts of Gujarat. Waterlogging has been reported in many urban areas, slowing traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters. Transport services have also suffered due to flooding and poor visibility.
With forecasts warning of extremely heavy rainfall in several districts in Gujarat. Surat bore the brunt of the deluge as incessant rain submerged roads, stranded commuters, triggered large-scale rescue operations and left four people dead in connection with monsoon-related incidents.
— ANI
Reader Comments
So sad to see children and families being evacuated from their homes 😞 My thoughts with everyone in Surat and other affected districts. The IMD warnings are crucial - people should stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. But honestly, we need better disaster preparedness. Gujarat faced the 2021 floods too, and yet cities like Surat remain vulnerable. Kudos to NDRF for today's rescue, but we can't keep relying on them every year.
Amit Shah ji speaking to the CM is good, but ground-level action matters more. 4 dead already from monsoon incidents - that's the real tragedy. The red alert says 'stay alert' but what about the people whose homes are already under water? They need boats, food, and shelter now, not tomorrow. Local authorities in Surat need to up their game big time.
Coming from a Western perspective, it's heartbreaking to see cities like Surat struggle with floods every year. The NDRF's rescue of 85 people including 22 children is commendable, but the scale of the problem - half the city submerged - suggests deeper infrastructure issues. I hope Gujarat invests in better urban planning and flood management. Stay safe, everyone.
This is a crisis situation! 60 kmph winds and heavy rain in Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara - that's scary 🌀 People need to follow the IMD advice strictly: no trees, no weak structures, no unnecessary travel. But I also feel for the ones already stranded on roads. The administration says they're working but 'overwhelmed and helpless' - that's not reassuring. Hope the CM's office coordinates with NDRF and local police for faster relief.
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