Hundreds relocated in Gujarat as heavy rains flood districts, disrupt daily life

Heavy rains in Gujarat prompt evacuations, school closures, and train disruptions as NDRF and SDRF teams rescue stranded people.

Hundreds of people were evacuated after swollen rivers and overflowing dams cut off several villages and inundated low-lying areas in many parts of Gujarat amid torrential downpours on July 24, officials said.

Normal life was thrown out of gear as heavy rains pounded the south and central Gujarat districts like Surat, Bharuch and Anand since morning, prompting the authorities to declare a holiday for schools and colleges in some places, they said.

Train services were also affected in some areas.

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The administration in the rain-battered districts deployed personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local fire teams to rescue people from flooded areas and relocate them to safe places.

Borsad taluka in Anand district received 314 mm of rainfall in just 4 hours since 8 a.m., State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) data showed. Around 400 people were shifted to safer places after low-lying areas were flooded, officials said.

Anand Collector Praveen Chaudhary said an NDRF team was pressed into service and the administration was working to rescue stranded people.