Surat: More than 4,000 people have been evacuated from flood-prone villages in Gujarat’s Surat district after relentless rainfall and rising river levels prompted the administration to intensify rescue and relief operations. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been deployed in Olpad and Mandvi following a ‘Red Alert’ issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
District Collector Tejas Parmar said the administration was on full alert after continuous heavy rainfall since Saturday morning and that all precautionary measures had been taken to ensure the safety of residents.
4,000 Residents Shifted to Safer Locations
According to the district administration, people living in villages along the Ambika River and other flood-affected rural areas have been shifted to safer places as a precaution.
“All necessary precautionary measures have been taken for the safety of citizens. More than 4,000 people from villages along the Ambika River and other affected rural areas have been safely evacuated,” Collector Tejas Parmar said.
Heavy Rainfall Triggers Flooding in Several Areas
Surat district recorded an average rainfall of 222 mm during the 24-hour period between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday.
Ambika taluka received the highest rainfall at 565 mm, while other talukas recorded between five and 12 inches of rain. Surat city received around five to six inches during the same period.
Although rainfall briefly eased in the morning, heavy showers resumed across all talukas from around 10 a.m., prompting authorities to maintain a high level of preparedness.
SDRF Teams Deployed as Rivers Continue to Rise
The overflowing Kim River caused waterlogging in low-lying villages of Olpad and Mangrol talukas, where evacuation operations have been underway since Friday.
Authorities have urged residents living along the banks of the Kim River to move to safer locations as water levels are expected to rise further.
To strengthen rescue efforts, one SDRF team has been stationed in Mandvi, while another team was deployed to Olpad on Saturday morning. Officials from the SDRF, police, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Taluka Development Officer (TDO) are monitoring the situation on the ground.
The administration said major creeks in Surat city are currently flowing below the danger mark despite a rise in water levels. Meanwhile, the Singanpor Causeway on the Tapi River has overflowed, while the Ukai Dam water level stood at 320 feet, below its prescribed rule level of 333 feet.
Residents have been advised to remain alert, follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary travel until weather conditions improve.