On Wednesday afternoon, 65-year-old Rehman Shah, a resident of Kamrunagar in Surat’s Limbayat area near Mithi Creek, suddenly experienced chest pain. Under normal circumstances, his family would have rushed him to the hospital. But with their home and neighborhood submerged under four feet of water due to continuous rainfall, reaching medical help was a challenge.
The family contacted the Fire Department’s control room, and a rescue team from Mandarwaja fire station was dispatched. Wading through chest-deep water with a stretcher, the team reached the first floor of Shah’s home, carefully lifted him, and walked nearly 20 minutes to reach the 108 ambulance. He was taken to SMIMER Hospital, where doctors later said his condition was stable.
Shah’s case highlights the ordeal faced by thousands of Surat residents, especially those in low-lying areas and near creeks, after two days of relentless rain on Monday and Tuesday left many homes flooded. Though the rains eased on Wednesday, stagnant floodwaters remained a major concern across several parts of the city.
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been actively responding, with teams distributing medicines, food packets, water bottles, and milk bags. Health screenings were conducted in multiple localities to identify residents in need of medical attention.
Worst-affected zones include parts of Limbayat, Udhna, Varachha B, Katargam, and Sarthana. While many residents have taken shelter with relatives, others like Shah’s family have moved to upper floors of their homes, with the ground floors fully flooded.
Surat Mayor Daxesh Mavani and Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal visited some of the impacted areas on Wednesday, meeting with locals and assuring them of full support.
As per data from the Central Flood Control Room of SMC, the water levels in the city’s creeks on Wednesday were:
- Kakra Creek (Udhna zone): 6.30 m (danger level: 8.48 m)
- Bhedwad Creek (Udhna zone): 5.40 m (danger level: 7.20 m)
- Mithi Creek (Limbayat zone): 8.85 m (danger level: 9.35 m)
- Bhatena Creek (Limbayat zone): 6.30 m (danger level: 8.25 m)
- Simada Creek (Varachha zone): 4.30 m (danger level: 4.50 m)
While Surat city received 1–2 inches of rainfall on Wednesday morning, the downpour stopped by the afternoon. However, nearby Tapi district experienced heavy rains.
Floodwaters also led to the closure of 68 roads connecting various villages and talukas, with police personnel stationed at both ends to restrict access.
According to a media report, SMC teams were working round the clock to drain water and restore normalcy. The health department deployed 125 supervisors and 1,289 sanitation workers, supported by 23 JCBs and 44 trucks. Together, they removed 129 metric tonnes of waste and sprayed over 9,565 kg of germicide powder across affected areas. Relief efforts also included the distribution of 9,950 water bottles and 9,257 food packets.
Health services were ramped up with 36 medical response teams and 236 surveillance workers who surveyed over 66,000 residents. Around 37,468 chlorine tablets were distributed, and 330 people were treated for illnesses such as fever, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and respiratory infections. Residents were advised to drink only boiled water and maintain hygiene.
Despite the flooding, no casualties have been reported so far in Surat city, officials confirmed.