Heavy rains pounded parts of south and central Gujarat districts over the last 24 hours, causing flood-like conditions in many areas and killing at least seven people, officials said on Monday.
They added that over 9,000 people were displaced and 468 were rescued.
In the meantime, the district collector of the Valsad district on Monday night announced that all schools and colleges will be closed on Tuesday due to heavy rains.
Dang, Navsari, Tapi, and Valsad districts in south Gujarat were impacted, while Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, and Kheda districts were affected in central Gujarat.
A warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rains in Valsad, Dang, Navsari, Tapi and Surat during the next five days has been issued by the Met department.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Gujarat that the Centre would provide all possible assistance.
“Seven persons died in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll due to rain-related incidents like lightning, drowning, wall collapse etc in Gujarat to 63 since June 1,” said state Disaster Management Minister Rajendra Trivedi while speaking with media.
There are 18 platoons each of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed at strategic locations to assist in rescue and relief efforts.
A release from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said that 16 people were airlifted to safety from near the flooded Ambika river in the Valsad district.
According to an official from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), heavy rains also affected Panchmahal, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, and Kheda districts.
“Regarding the flood-like situation created due to heavy rains in various areas of Gujarat, talked to the Chief Minister Shri @Bhupendrapbjp and assured all possible help from the Modi government. The Gujarat administration, SDRF and NDRF are busy delivering quick help to the affected people,” tweeted Shah.
The Uchh and Heran rivers in Chhota Udepur district are in spate, causing flooding in low-lying areas. There are many residential areas in Bodeli town in which river waters have entered.
Ahmedabad received 219 mm of rain on Sunday night, causing flooding in underpasses and residential areas. On Monday, the city’s schools and colleges remained closed.
According to a Western Railway official, tracks between the sections of Chandod and Ekta Nagar were washed away, affecting four passenger trains and an express train.