Surat: Torrential rain battered Surat and large parts of south Gujarat from the early hours of Tuesday, triggering widespread waterlogging and disruption of traffic movement. The situation turned tense as several key roads began to get blocked, affecting daily commute and economic activity in the city.An official from the district disaster management office confirmed that a total of five deaths were reported in rain-related incidents over the past two days. “Two deaths due to electrocution were reported on Tuesday, while another person died in Kamrej area. On Monday, two individuals died from electrocution in Rander,” the official said.The intensity of the downpour prompted many schools and colleges to suspend classes. While the education department left the decision to individual institutions, several schools announced a holiday, citing unsafe travel conditions for students and staff.The city received 311mm of rain in the 12 hours since 6am. Elsewhere in the district, Kamrej recorded 403mm and Palsana 357mm, making this one of the heaviest spells of the season.
Waterlogging crippled movement in several parts of the city. Areas including Parvat, Mithi Khadi in Limbayat, and Azad Nagar in Bhatar were among the worst affected. The road outside Veer Narmad South Gujarat University remained completely submerged. Residents said several of the affected stretches had never witnessed flooding of this magnitude in previous monsoons.The relentless rain also pushed creeks to their brim. In Bhedwad, the creek crossed the danger mark, sending water into adjoining residential areas. Flooding forced the closure of Udhna Main Road, a key link between Surat and Navsari, with traffic diverted through alternate routes.Officials attributed the situation not only to heavy rain within the city but also to large inflows from rural parts of Surat district. As creeks reached maximum capacity, stormwater drainage slowed significantly, causing water to accumulate rapidly in low-lying areas.Emergency teams carried out rescue operations across multiple locations. Water entered basement shops in textile markets on Ring Road, disrupting business. In Sarthana, Surat Fire and Emergency Services personnel rescued passengers stranded inside an ST bus caught in flooded streets. Another team used a boat to evacuate people trapped near a bank in Varachha, close to Surat railway station. Fire personnel also rescued schoolchildren from Nana Varachha, while flooding was reported inside shops in City Light and areas around the railway station.Two children drown in water-filled pitSURAT: Two 8-year-old children, a boy and a girl, drowned in a rainwater-filled pit on an open plot in the Sachin area on Tuesday. The incident took place in an open field near Mahavir Society, located opposite Aagam Navkar Residency in Pali. According to civic officials from South Zone B Sachin, a local woman had gone to the spot with her three children to bathe in the accumulated rainwater. While the woman and one girl managed to step out of the deep pit safely, the other two children became trapped and slipped under the water. Officials said the open plot is situated in a corner near the housing society, which comprises around 150 bungalows.2,100 people moved to safetyAround 2,100 people have been relocated from across different zones to safe shelters, said Surat civic chief M Nagarajan. The civic body began a precautionary evacuation drive after heavy rainfall raised the risk of waterlogging in low-lying parts of the city. Residents evacuated from Gadha Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Premnagar and Sanjay Nagar have been accommodated at designated schools and a community hall. The civic body has arranged meals, safe drinking water and other essential basic facilities for all evacuees.
