Gujarat: Over 4,000 evacuated as heavy rain batters Surat; SDRF teams deployed amid ‘Red Alert’

Surat: More than 4,000 people have been evacuated from flood-prone villages in Surat district as relentless rainfall and rising river levels prompted the administration to intensify rescue and relief measures, with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed in Olpad and Mandvi under a ‘Red Alert’ issued by the India Meteorological Department.

District Collector Tejas Parmar said the district administration was operating in full alert mode following continuous heavy rainfall since Saturday morning.

He said all necessary precautionary measures had been taken to safeguard residents, and people from villages along the Ambika River as well as other affected rural areas had been shifted to safer locations.

“All necessary precautionary measures have been taken for the safety of citizens. More than 4,000 people from villages along the Ambika River and other affected rural areas have been safely evacuated,” Parmar said.

Surat district recorded an average rainfall of 222 mm, or around eight inches, during the 24-hour period between 6 a.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. on Saturday.

Ambika taluka received the highest rainfall at 565 mm, approximately 22.5 inches, while the remaining talukas recorded between five and 12 inches of rain. Surat city itself received around five to six inches during the same period.

The Collector said the possibility of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places continued.

Although rainfall briefly eased during the morning, heavy showers resumed across all talukas from around 10 a.m., prompting authorities to maintain a high level of preparedness throughout the district.

The overflowing Kim River led to waterlogging in low-lying villages of Olpad and Mangrol talukas, where evacuation efforts had begun on Friday and continued on Saturday as required.

Parmar appealed to residents living along the banks of the Kim River to move to safer locations without delay, warning that the river’s water level could rise further.

“There is every possibility that the Kim River’s water level will continue to increase. Residents living along the river should move to safe locations in time,” he said.

He added that all concerned agencies, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Taluka Development Officer (TDO), SDRF and police teams, were deployed in the field and closely monitoring the evolving situation.

To strengthen rescue operations, one SDRF team had already been stationed at Mandvi, while an additional team was dispatched to Olpad on Saturday morning.

The administration said the major creeks in Surat city were flowing below the danger level despite water levels having risen in some locations on Friday.

The Singanpor Causeway on the Tapi River has overflowed, while the Ukai Dam, which has a rule level of 333 feet, was at a water level of 320 feet, remaining within the prescribed safe limit.

Parmar urged residents to remain vigilant, follow official advisories and avoid venturing outdoors unless absolutely necessary until the weather conditions improve.

IANS