On Thursday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel oversaw the response to heavy rainfall in southern districts, where over 1,200 people were rescued and one person died in Tapi district. Umbergaon taluka in Valsad district received a staggering 1,100 mm of rainfall in just 16 hours, between 6 am on Wednesday and 10 am on Thursday. The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that many other talukas in Valsad district received over 600 mm of rainfall during the same period. As a result, a ‘red alert’ was issued for the southern districts of Valsad, Navsari, Surat, and Tapi, with National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams deployed for rescue operations. Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana stated that the Air Force and Coast Guard are on alert and will airlift people if necessary, once weather conditions improve. Makwana informed that 1,200 people have been rescued, and 1,500 residents in Surat have been moved to safe locations. In Navsari district, 200 people stranded across 11 villages due to rising water levels have been rescued and relocated to safety. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red rain alert for Valsad, Navsari, Dangs, Surat, and Tapi districts for Thursday and Friday. Chief Minister Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar, reviewed the situation, and spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured the Gujarat government of all necessary assistance.
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📰 Source: Sahil Online