1200 Tourists Rescued in Navsari Floods

Navsari : About 1,200 tourists from Surat, Valsad, and neighbouring Maharashtra were rescued from Vangan village in Vansda taluka, Navsari district, after sudden floods in the Kaveri River on Monday. The heavy rains in the catchment areas caused the Kaveri River to overflow, trapping tourists at Ankada Falls along with about 100 cars and 120 two-wheelers. The Vansda Police team, under the guidance of the Navsari District Police Superintendent, bravely rescued the stranded tourists, working continuously for four hours amid torrential downpours.

Navsari district and the tribal district of Dang have been severely impacted by two consecutive days of heavy rainfall, flooding the catchment areas of the Purna, Ambika, and Kaveri rivers. This has disrupted the lives of residents, particularly those living near the banks and in low-lying areas. Floodwaters have forced the closure of 64 roads in the district, and hundreds of people have been evacuated to safer locations.

The recorded rainfall in the last 24 hours has been significant: Khergam received 9.8 inches, Vansda 8.2 inches, Chikhli 6.5 inches, Kaprada 7.5 inches, Dharampur 7.28 inches, and Valsad 5.5 inches. The Purna, Ambika, and Kaveri rivers are flowing below their danger levels, particularly in the low-lying areas of Chikhli, Khergam taluka, and Bilimora. Despite this, the situation remains precarious.

The heavy rains have also caused structural damage, with two houses collapsing in the villages of Ajarai and Posari in Ganadevi. In South Gujarat’s Dang district, including Vapi and Valsad, most rivers have breached their dangerous levels, prompting the declaration of holidays in local schools and colleges to ensure the safety of students.

In response to the severe weather and the Red Alert issued by the Meteorological Department, a public holiday was declared for Anganwadis, schools, colleges, and ITIs in Valsad, Dharampur, and Kaprada talukas on Monday, August 5. Educational activities in Pardi, Vapi, Gandevi, Chikhli, Bilimora, and Umargam were also suspended. The Auranga River in Valsad overflowed from the Kaidas Road Bridge in the evening, inundating low-lying areas such as Chipwad, Hanuman Bhagda, and Kashmira Nagar.

The administration remains on high alert, particularly in low-lying areas, due to the continued risk of rising water levels overnight. Efforts are ongoing to relocate people from vulnerable regions. The collapse of the Gargadia Bridge on Sunday afternoon due to rising floodwaters has further complicated the situation, creating a challenging night ahead for both locals and the administrative system in Valsad.

Late at night, seven fishermen were trapped in a shrimp farm at Hinglaj village in Valsad as the Auranga River’s water level rose. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully rescued the fishermen. A team, including the Taluka Development Officer (TDO), Mamlatdar, and Valsad Rural Police Inspector (PI), was dispatched to the site to manage the incident and ensure the safety of the affected individuals.