AHMEDABAD: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has rescued 67 people, including 25 women and 22 children, from floodwaters in Sarikhurad village of Gujarat’s Navsari district as heavy rainfall continued to batter parts of the state.According to news agency ANI, the NDRF said the rescue operation was launched by its 6th Battalion after the civil administration received information that several villagers had been stranded due to flooding. Rescue operations are still underway, the force added.In a separate operation, an Indian Coast Guard helicopter rescued more than 30 stranded workers from Gandevi in Navsari district amid a flood-like situation triggered by incessant rainfall.Navsari and Valsad remain the worst-affected districts, followed by Surat, Ahmedabad, Kheda, Tapi and Dang, where persistent rain since Wednesday has disrupted normal life and led to widespread waterlogging.Meanwhile, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi have been continuously monitoring the flood situation.Sanghavi visited Navsari to assess the situation on the ground and directed officials to ensure there was no shortfall in rescue, relief, evacuation and public safety measures.To strengthen relief efforts and ensure timely assistance to affected residents, the state government has also deployed 10 senior officers to Valsad district with immediate effect.Rescue operations have been intensified in the flood-affected areas of Gujarat’s Valsad district, with multiple agencies deployed to assist the local administration.According to officials, 70 Army personnel equipped with five boats, five teams each from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with 25 Fire Brigade personnel, have been deployed. More than 500 residents from the rural areas of Umargam, Vapi, Dharampur and Pardi talukas have been evacuated to safer locations.Meanwhile, State Finance Minister and Navsari district in-charge minister Kanubhai Desai visited the Disaster Control Room to review the flood situation following heavy rainfall.District collector Manish Gurwani informed the minister that Navsari had received an average of 4.5 inches of rainfall till 2 pm. He said the Juj and Keliya dams had overflowed, nearly 250 roads had been closed, and around 3,000 people had been shifted to relief shelters.Desai directed officials to ensure adequate healthcare, sanitation facilities and effective coordination among all departments managing the relief camps.In Tapi district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued 11 villagers stranded in Dhodiyawad Faliya of Dolvan taluka after floodwaters inundated the area following extremely heavy rainfall.Meanwhile, emergency teams in Surat city have been carrying out round-the-clock rescue and relief operations. More than 50 residents were evacuated from Geeta Nagar in Limbayat, the Shitala Mata Mandir area in Varachha, and Krishna Nagar in Udhna.Overall, authorities have rescued and shifted 2,244 residents from Surat city and 2,603 people from the district’s rural areas to relief centres and other safe locations.(With agency inputs)
