Gujarat Rain ALERT: Army Pressed in 5 Districts, Several Trains Cancelled

Gujarat Rains: Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc across Gujarat, prompting authorities to deploy the Indian Army in five districts to assist with rescue and relief operations. The relentless downpour has caused widespread flooding, leading to the cancellation of several trains across the state, disrupting transportation and leaving many stranded. With the situation intensifying, emergency measures are being taken to ensure the safety of residents and manage the growing crisis. 

Following the torrential rains, the state has also been grappling with severe waterlogging across numerous areas. Besides, heavy rains forced the evacuation of over 18,000 individuals, with more than 300 people rescued from rain-related incidents.  The India Meteorological Department has issued an alert for continued very heavy rainfall until August 30.

Vadaodara Worst-Hit 

Three additional columns of the Army, and one each of the NDRF and the SDRF, were deployed in Vadodara.  Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel directed authorities to deploy cleaning equipment and spray disinfectants in Vadodara city as soon as flood water starts receding. He directed that teams from municipal corporations of Ahmedabad and Surat, and municipalities of Bharuch and Anand be deployed in Vadodara for the purpose.

The CM ordered the deployment of five additional teams of the NDRF and four Army columns to assist the administration in rescue and relief operations in Vadodara. Additional rescue boats should also be sent from Ahmedabad and Surat to the flood-affected city, he said.

Apart from the NDRF and the SDRF, the Army, the Indian Air Force and the Coast Guard were carrying out rescue and relief operations in rain-ravaged parts, with around 17,800 people relocated and another 2,000 rescued so far, officials said.

₹50 Lakh Audi Submerged in Floodwaters

Amid the crisis, a resident from Vadodara shared a distressing account on Reddit, revealing the damage caused by the flooding. The man reported losing three cars to the waterlogged streets, including a Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, a Ford EcoSport, and an Audi A6, valued at over ₹50 lakh. The vehicles were reportedly submerged in several inches of water following an intense overnight downpour.

Sharing the images of the cars submerged in the water, he said,"There's nothing left to live for anymore...All the 3 cars mentioned in my flair are now gone."

Gujarat Rains: 26 Dead in Rain-Related Incidents

Meanwhile,  26 persons have died in rain-related incidents in the last three days. These deaths were reported from Rajkot, Anand, Mahisagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Morbi, Junagadh and Bharuch districts.

At least nine persons died in rain-related incidents, such as collapse of walls and drowning, in different parts of the state on Tuesday, an official release said.

On Monday, seven persons died in similar incidents in the state. On Wednesday, three members of a family drowned after their car got swept away in flood waters in Rajkot, police said.

Rescue teams found seven bodies of people who had gone missing after the tractor trolley on which they were travelling was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village of Morbi district on Sunday, SP Rahul Tripathi said.

Three of these bodies were found on Tuesday and four on Wednesday, said Morbi fire officer Devendrasinh Jadeja, adding one person was still missing.