The western Indian state of Gujarat is grappling with a flood-like situation as relentless rainfall continues to batter the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Gujarat, warning of more intense downpours in the coming days. The districts under the red alert include Vadodara, Chhotaudepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, and others.
The IMD has attributed the heavy rainfall to a deep depression over the Saurashtra and Kachchh region, currently situated 50 kilometers north-northwest of Bhuj. This depression is expected to intensify as it moves towards the northeast Arabian Sea, bringing further rain to the region. The depression is moving at a speed of 12 kilometers per hour and is predicted to cause “extremely heavy to exceptionally heavy” rainfall in Saurashtra and Kachchh, according to Ramashray Yadav, a scientist at IMD, as reported by the Hindustan Times. This heavy rainfall is anticipated to continue for the next four days.
The situation is particularly dire in Vadodara, where the city has been submerged for the past two days, with water levels reaching up to 12 feet in some areas. The Vishwamitri River, which flows through the district, has risen to a staggering 37 feet, exceeding the danger mark significantly due to heavy rainfall and the release of water from the Ajwa dam. This has resulted in severe flooding in Vadodara, prompting the state government to seek assistance from the Indian Army for relief and rescue operations. Rushikesh Patel, the health minister of Gujarat, has described the situation as “alarming.”
Local authorities have evacuated over 5,000 residents to safety and rescued 1,200 people stranded by the floods. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed to expedite relief efforts, according to Patel. Despite the ongoing rescue operations, large parts of Vadodara remain underwater, with areas like Siddharth Nagar, Akota, and Fatehgunj experiencing the worst impact of the flooding.
The heavy rainfall has unfortunately resulted in fatalities. Across the state, 16 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents over the past two days. Thousands have been displaced due to the heavy downpour, marking the fourth consecutive day of intense rainfall in the state. In response to the ongoing flooding, the government is exploring long-term solutions to mitigate future flood risks. The government has proposed diverting water from the Ajwa Dam to the Narmada Canal, instead of allowing it to flow into the Vishwamitri River. “The plan has been discussed with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel,” the minister stated.
As the situation remains critical, the authorities are focusing on rescuing stranded individuals, providing relief to those affected, and exploring long-term strategies to address the issue of flooding in the region.
