15 dead, over 12,000 relocated: Gujarat devastated by heavy rains
Gujarat is currently grappling with severe flooding caused by relentless rainfall. The deluge has claimed the lives of at least 15 people and forced more than 12,000 to seek refuge in safer areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the state may continue to experience rainfall until September 1, potentially exacerbating the already dire situation.
Heavy rainfall disrupts essential services
The incessant rains have significantly disrupted essential services across Gujarat. Train and flight operations have been severely impacted, with Western Railway (WR) canceling 56 trains and diverting or short-terminating several others due to waterlogging in areas like Bajwa and Ranoli in Vadodara. Additionally, over 33 flights were delayed and two were canceled due to heavy rain in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Power outages and infrastructure damage
The relentless rainfall has also led to power outages in several districts. As of Tuesday, 636 roads—including 34 state highways—and over 1,000 villages were without power. In the Saurashtra and Kutch regions alone, up to 419 villages are experiencing power cuts. The floods have also caused significant damage to infrastructure, with bridges collapsing due to rising water levels in rivers like Bharaj and Bhogavo.
Rivers cross danger mark, forcing mass relocations
The state's rivers have crossed the danger level in several districts due to the continuous inflow of dam waters from neighboring Madhya Pradesh. The Narmada River surpassed the 24-feet danger level at Golden Bridge, flooding some low-lying areas in Bharuch district. Similarly, the Vishwamitri River exceeded its 25-feet danger mark on Tuesday morning, necessitating the relocation of over 3,000 residents from low-lying areas in Vadodara district to safer locations.
Gujarat's annual rainfall exceeds average in some regions
Rainfall data shows that Kutch has received 95.8% of its average annual precipitation, while South Gujarat has seen 105.6%. North and Central Gujarat have recorded 77% and 70.74% of their average yearly rainfall, respectively, and Saurashtra has received 91%. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel had held a virtual meeting with district collectors, police superintendents, and senior officials to review the situation. He has also contacted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who promised additional central assistance if required.
