AHMEDABAD: Heavy rain continued to batter Gujarat for the third consecutive day on Friday, forcing over 38,600 people to move to safer places, while more than 352 people were rescued.“As many as 38,000 people have been relocated so far, primarily from the Navsari and Valsad districts. Most of these people have moved to their relatives’ homes, while approximately 2,000 have been shifted to shelter homes. A total of 352 people have been rescued so far,” Relief commissioner Gaurang Makwana said.Makwana said one death has been officially reported in Tapi district, adding that information from other affected areas is still being collected.Four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were airlifted from Odisha to Surat and deployed in Valsad and Navsari, while one team remains on standby. Two Army columns have also reached the affected districts, with two more teams being sent to strengthen rescue operations.“Two Army columns have reached Valsad and Navsari, and two additional teams were being dispatched in the affected districts. Depending on requirements and the evolving situation on Friday, further teams will be deployed,” Makwana said.According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Mehmedabad in Kheda district recorded the highest rainfall at 507 mm in the 24 hours ending 6 am on Friday. Dholka in Ahmedabad received 473 mm, while Chikhli in Navsari recorded 451 mm. Umbergaon in Valsad and Khergam in Navsari both received 434 mm. A total of 35 talukas recorded more than 200 mm of rainfall during the same period.Fresh rain continued on Friday morning in Deodar, Mehmedabad, Patan, Amreli and Banaskantha, keeping officials on alert.Flood rescue operations were underway in Valsad, Navsari, Ahmedabad, Kheda and Dangs with teams from the NDRF, SDRF, Army and Coast Guard assisting affected residents. The Army’s Golden Katar Division also rescued stranded people and provided essential assistance in Valsad, Navsari and Ahmedabad.Several rivers, including the Ambika, Par, Auranga and Daman Ganga, were flowing above danger levels, flooding nearby low-lying areas.In Ahmedabad, heavy rain caused widespread disruption, leaving roads waterlogged and forcing the closure of several underpasses. The Gujarat government declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the rain-hit districts, while five Mumbai-bound trains were cancelled because of waterlogging on railway tracks in south Gujarat.Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel directed officials to remain on high alert and closely monitor the situation.Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited flood-hit Umbergaon in Valsad district after the area received more than 1,300 mm of rain in two days. Officials informed him that around 12,376 people had been evacuated to safer locations.The state government has deployed 17 senior officers in Valsad to oversee relief and rescue work. Sanghavi also asked officials to coordinate with insurance companies to speed up claims for traders and shopkeepers affected by the floods.Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mahisagar, Panchmahal and Dahod districts on Friday, while several districts, including Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Kheda, Gandhinagar and Anand, remain under an orange alert. The weather department said the intensity of rainfall is expected to reduce from Monday.
