A man carries his belongings through a flooded street after heavy rains on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on August 28, 2024.
The situation in flood-affected Gujarat saw a slight improvement on Thursday, August 29, 2024, as rainfall activity diminished. However, Vadodara and other areas continue to face significant challenges due to overflowing rivers, prompting ongoing rescue and relief efforts by authorities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in discussions with State Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, marking the second consecutive day of assessing the situation. He urged the CM to implement measures to mitigate the potential spread of diseases following the floods.
As of Wednesday, August 28, 2024, rain-related incidents have tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals over the past three days, according to official reports.
Over 18,000 residents have been relocated, and approximately 1,200 individuals have been rescued from the most affected areas. In some instances, helicopters have been deployed to transport people to safety, highlighted the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
Vadodara, which has experienced the most severe impact from the recent downpours, experienced a slight decline in the water level of the Vishwamitri River, dropping from 37 feet to 32 feet in the morning. Nonetheless, numerous low-lying areas remain submerged.
The river surpassed the danger level of 25 feet on Tuesday morning, August 27, 2024, following heavy rainfall and water release from the Ajwa dam.
In a recent statement, CM Patel noted, “Gujarat has faced relentless rainfall over the past three days. Prime Minister Modi contacted me again today to discuss the ongoing situation and expressed his concern regarding the floods in the Vishwamitri River.”
The Prime Minister is closely monitoring relief operations across all districts and has pledged full support to the state. Additionally, he instructed local authorities to undertake thorough cleaning efforts to prevent disease outbreaks after the floods, Patel confirmed.
During the 24 hours leading up to 6 a.m., Bhanvad in Devbhumi Dwarka district recorded an impressive 295 mm of rainfall, while Abdasa in Kutch logged 276 mm, and Kalyanpur in Devbhumi Dwarka saw 263 mm.
A total of twenty talukas across Gujarat received over 100 mm of rainfall during this period, according to official data.
Mandvi taluka in Kutch experienced 101 mm of rainfall within a four-hour span ending at 10 a.m.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy rainfall in the coastal regions of Saurashtra and Kutch for Thursday.
Relief and rescue operations are actively underway, with teams from the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration assisting in the most impacted districts, including Vadodara, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Kutch.
