Gujarat: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on Wednesday carried out rescue operations and successfully evacuated 85 individuals, including 36 males, 27 females and 22 children, at the Sriram Nagar Society in Surat, Gujarat.
The rescue operation comes as Surat reels under the havoc of floods, with people stranded in rising waters on all sides. As the deluge intensifies for the second consecutive day, thousands remain stuck on the roads. While the administration is working to evacuate them, it appears overwhelmed and helpless.
More than half the city is submerged, and most areas have been cut off from connectivity.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘Red Alert’ with lightning and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of around 60 kmph and heavy rainfall in Amreli, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Botad, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman, Dangs, Diu, Gir Somnath, Narmada, Navsari, Surat, Tapi, Vadodara and Valsad districts.
The IMD also released an ‘Orange Alert’ with lightning and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of around 40-60 kmph for Ahmedabad, Anand, Chhota Udepur, Dahod, Junagadh, Kheda, Panchmahal, Rajkot and Surendranagar.
The IMD has advised residents in the affected areas to stay alert and take necessary precautions. Citizens have been advised not to take shelter under trees or weak structures, to check road and traffic conditions, avoid unnecessary travel and follow advisories issued by the concerned agencies.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel following the heavy rainfall and assured all possible support from the Centre. He also took stock of the situation arising due to persistent monsoon showers that have affected normal life.
Continuous heavy rainfall has severely disrupted normal life in several parts of Gujarat. Waterlogging has been reported in many urban areas, slowing traffic and affecting transport services. Surat has borne the brunt of the rainfall as inundated roads, stranded commuters and large-scale rescue operations continue, while four people have died in monsoon-related incidents.
