Gujarat continues to struggle with a severe flood situation due to ongoing, heavy rainfall; on Thursday, August 19, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a “red” signal for numerous areas of the state. The deep depression over Saurashtra and Kachchh is predicted by the weather service to deepen as it approaches the northeast Arabian Sea, bringing more intense rains to the area. The number of people killed in rain-related incidents has risen to 28 in the past three days, despite rescue efforts and evacuations being carried out.
The most recent information on the floods in Gujarat is as follows:
In 12 districts—Kachchh, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Junagarh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Botad—very heavy showers are predicted, according to IMD.
During a 12-hour period ending at 6 pm on Wednesday, districts in the Saurashtra area, including Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Porbandar, got between 50 mm and 200 mm of rain. According to PTI, Bhanvad taluka in the Devbhumi Dwarka district recorded the maximum rainfall in the state during this time, at 185 mm.In order to support the 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams conducting rescue and relief operations in the state, six Army contingents have been sent there.
Alok Pandey, the state commissioner for relief, reported that some 40,000 people had been taken out of the flood-affected areas.
As the situation in some regions of Gujarat continues to resemble flooding, 95 persons have been rescued, according to NDRF inspector Manjit. He stated on Wednesday, as reported by ANI, “In the last two days, there has been heavy rainfall in Dwarka…water has entered into people’s houses…our team has rescued 95 people so far.”
In the meantime, there have been 28 fatal rain-related accidents in the city.
Over 5,000 persons have reportedly received rehabilitation thus far, according to Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, as reported by ANI.
According to the IMD, the deep depression over Kachchh and Saurashtra stayed essentially stationary during the last six hours and was located roughly 50 km to the northwest of Bhuj, Gujarat. “To move by the morning of August 30th, W-SW, and emerge into the northeast Arabian Sea.” On August 30, the weather service stated, “There is a possibility of its temporary and marginal intensification over the northeast Arabian Sea while moving W-SW away from the Indian coast.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the phone earlier on Wednesday, assuring him of the Central government’s full support and help. “The Prime Minister gave directives for the defense of citizens’ lives and property. The Central Government also promised to give Gujarat all the support and help it needs,” the Chief Minister added.
In the meantime, Chief Minister Patel assessed the state of affairs and asked authorities to give relief efforts for those stranded in water top priority, with a focus on Vadodara city and district, Devbhoomi Dwarka, and Jamnagar districts. “Until the water recedes, the state government’s top priority is to provide food packets, drinking water pouches, and medical supplies to those stranded in the flood.” In addition, he stated that the impacted regions experiencing a disruption in their power supply are getting it back up quickly.
(With agency contributions)
