Around 38 school students and 22 other people were rescued on Monday after being trapped by heavy rainfall in Bhavnagar and Amreli districts of Gujarat.
The students, from Model High School, were travelling on the Ratol-Talgajarda road near Talgajarda village in Bhavnagar’s Mahuva area when the water level in the Rupao river suddenly rose, causing flooding. The school bus driver stopped the bus and quickly guided the students to take shelter in a nearby house. But the water kept rising, leaving the students trapped inside.
Once the local administration was informed, rescue teams including the fire department, police, and government officials reached the spot with help from villagers. They used a boat and a tractor to get to the house where the students were stuck. Luckily, the water level dropped during the rescue, and all students were brought out safely with the help of a human chain. No one was hurt.
Meanwhile, in Amreli district’s Rajula area, 22 workers from the Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) were also rescued after being trapped near Victor village. A Coast Guard team carried out the rescue, and the workers were given shelter at a nearby school.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 195 of Gujarat’s 251 talukas received rainfall till 8 pm on Monday. Bhavnagar and Amreli were among the worst-affected, with some areas receiving over 11 inches of rain.
In response to the situation, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered officials to immediately evacuate people from risk zones and prepare for more rain. He also urged district officials to regularly warn people and advise them not to cross rivers or streams during heavy rain. An Air Force team from Jamnagar is on standby, and a helicopter has been sent for emergencies.
Onset of monsoon
The Southwest Monsoon has now reached the north Arabian Sea and several parts of Gujarat, including Veraval, Bhavnagar, and Vadodara, as of Monday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that weather conditions are favourable for the monsoon to spread to more parts of Gujarat within the next 24 hours.
According to IMD Ahmedabad’s Regional Director A.K. Das, the state is likely to receive very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on Tuesday. This is due to a cyclonic circulation (a weather system that causes rainfall) over South Gujarat. A low-pressure area is expected to form in the region soon and may move north-northwest within the next two days, which could lead to more rain.
The IMD has predicted:
- Extremely heavy rain in parts of Saurashtra, especially Junagadh and Gir Somnath on Tuesday.
- Heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected in Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Rajkot, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Dang, Tapi, Dwarka, and Jamnagar.
- Light to moderate rain, along with light thunderstorms, lightning, and winds of 30–40 km/h, are likely in districts of North Gujarat, South Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch.
The IMD has also said that parts of Saurashtra and South Gujarat may continue to receive heavy rain until June 22.