Torrential rain lashed south Gujarat on Thursday, triggering severe flooding, disrupting rail services and forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of people from low-lying areas, with Valsad district emerging as the worst-hit.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Umbergaon taluka in Valsad received an extraordinary 1,100 mm of rainfall in just 16 hours between 6 am on Wednesday and 10 am on Thursday. Several other talukas in the district recorded more than 600 mm during the same period.
The incessant downpour caused rivers including the Auranga, Par and Daman Ganga to overflow, inundating residential areas and prompting large-scale evacuations. In Surat, more than 2,200 people were shifted to safer locations as floodwaters entered low-lying areas.
Heavy rainfall also affected Tapi, Navsari and Dangs districts, disrupting normal life and triggering rescue operations. Fire department personnel in Surat used boats to evacuate stranded residents, including 40 people from the Pandesara area.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Tapi and Dangs for Thursday and Friday, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the situation and directed ministers to oversee relief and rescue operations in the affected districts. He also assured that additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams would be deployed if required.
Ahmedabad also witnessed intense rainfall, receiving 66 mm in just two hours, leading to waterlogging, closure of several underpasses and traffic congestion across the city.
The SEOC said south Gujarat has already received over 62 per cent of its average seasonal rainfall, while the state as a whole has recorded around 36 per cent of its annual average rainfall so far.
Train Services Disrupted
Heavy rainfall also disrupted rail traffic on the Western Railway route connecting Gujarat and Mumbai.
Train operations between Dahanu Road in Maharashtra and Valsad in Gujarat were affected after river levels reached the danger mark at key railway bridges.
According to Western Railway, services on Bridge No. 203 between Umargam Road and Gholvad were suspended early Thursday after floodwaters rose to dangerous levels. Operations resumed later under a strict 15 kmph speed restriction.
Train movements were also halted on Bridge No. 230 in Sanjan Yard and Bridge No. 284 between Udvada and Vapi after water levels crossed safety limits.
As a result, several trains to and from Mumbai were cancelled, diverted or short-terminated. Western Railway has set up help desks to assist affected passengers.
In neighbouring Maharashtra, the Palghar region also experienced heavy overnight rainfall, inundating several towns and villages, prompting rescue operations and forcing authorities to declare a holiday for schools. The IMD has issued a red alert for the district, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds of 60-70 kmph.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
