Heavy Rains Flood Surat with 16 Inches in 36 Hours, Narmada’s Nandod Sees 8.66 Inches
Ahmedabad/Surat: Heavy rainfall battered 120 talukas across the state today, with three talukas recording over 7 inches of rain. Nandod in Narmada district saw the highest at 8.66 inches, followed by Tilakwada with 7.13 inches and Dahod with 6.26 inches. Vapi recorded 6.06 inches.
Other areas also faced significant downpours: Jetpur Pavi (5.98 inches), Dharampur (5.67 inches), Pardi (5.04 inches), Garudeshwar (4.92 inches), Vyara (4.88 inches), Bardoli (4.88 inches), Godhra (4.61 inches), Morva Hadaf (4.61 inches), Khergam (4.57 inches), Sankheda (4.41 inches), Halol (4.21 inches), Lunawada (4.06 inches), and Dediyapada (4.06 inches). Remaining talukas saw rainfall ranging from 0.04 to 3.98 inches, with 59 talukas recording less than an inch.
Surat was hit hardest, receiving 16 inches of rain in just 36 hours, triggering flood-like conditions. Low-lying areas were inundated with water levels ranging from knee-deep to neck-high, forcing school closures. Rescue operations used tractors and boats to evacuate stranded residents.
The flooding transformed Surat, often called the Diamond City, into what resembled a coastal disaster zone. Three youths were swept away in a creek; the fire brigade rescued two, while a search continues for the third. In Sarthana, water levels reached waist-high due to creek overflow, disrupting normal life across the city. Bulldozers were deployed to relocate residents.
Sarthana police station itself was flooded, yet its officers, including a female ASI, braved neck-deep water to rescue three people. Near Suryapur canal, 13 bank employees were trapped in floodwaters but were saved by police and fire department teams, who risked their lives in the operation.
A Weather Watch Group meeting, chaired by the Relief Commissioner at the State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar, reviewed the monsoon situation and departmental preparedness. Instructions were issued to ensure coordinated action.
A meteorological department official reported ongoing rainfall across the state, with moderate to heavy rain expected in various regions over the next week. Departments were directed to stay vigilant for potential risks.
An NDRF officer confirmed that 34 NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed across districts to handle emergencies, with two additional teams on standby. An irrigation department official noted that of the state’s 206 reservoirs, 15 are on high alert, 12 on alert, and 11 on warning status due to rising water levels.