In the last three days, Gujarat has been battered by relentless heavy rainfall, leading to the tragic loss of 28 lives and the evacuation of nearly 18,000 people from flood-affected areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a dire warning, predicting extremely heavy rainfall across 11 districts today.
According to the Gujarat government, fatalities have been reported across several districts: one each in Morbi, Vadodara, Bharuch, Jamnagar, Aravalli, Panchmahal, Dwarka, and Dang; six in Anand; four in Ahmedabad; and two in Gandhinagar, Kheda, Mahisagar, Dahod, and Surendranagar. Among the deceased are seven individuals who went missing after their tractor-trolley was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village in Morbi district.
Rainfall Alerts Issued Across Gujarat
The IMD has issued a red alert for the Kachchh and Saurashtra regions, including the districts of Kachchh, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Gir Somnath, Amreli, and Bhavnagar. A yellow alert has been issued for North, Central, and South Gujarat. The ongoing heavy rainfall is attributed to a deep depression in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, assessing the situation and offering full support from the central government.
Flooding in Vadodara and State’s Call for Army Assistance
Though the rain has subsided in Vadodara, the situation remains critical, with several low-lying areas flooded after the Vishwamitri River breached its banks and entered residential zones.
The Gujarat government has requested the assistance of six Indian Army columns, one each in Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi, and Rajkot, to aid in relief efforts. Additionally, 14 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) platoons and 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) platoons have been deployed to support ongoing disaster management operations.
IMD’s Forecast and Warning
The IMD forecasts that the depression will likely move out of the Kachchh and Saurashtra regions toward the Arabian Sea by August 30. However, a temporary and marginal intensification over the northeast Arabian Sea is possible on the same day.
