3,000 Rescued, Two Killed as Rains Wreak Havoc in South Gujarat

SURAT : Relentless monsoon rain has pushed Navsari district into a full-scale flood emergency, forcing the rescue of nearly 3,000 people, disrupting rail services, and claiming the lives of two young men in Vansda. The flood crisis has also prompted the Gujarat government to shut schools and colleges in five districts as heavy rainfall continues across South Gujarat.

The situation worsened after the Kaveri River reached 33 feet, the Ambika River rose to 41.65 feet, and the Purna River touched 27 feet, all crossing the danger mark. The overflowing Juj and Keliya dams further aggravated flooding across several villages and urban areas.

In a tragic incident at Gangpur in Vansda, two youths lost their lives after their motorcycle was swept away while attempting to cross a road that had already been closed due to floodwaters.

“Rescue teams have safely shifted around 3,000 people from flood-hit areas to relief shelters. Our priority is protecting lives and ensuring essential services,” officials said.

The state government has declared a holiday on July 24 for all government and private schools, colleges and anganwadis in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Valsad and Navsari. Authorities have urged parents and students to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired an emergency review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) to monitor rescue operations. Senior ministers, IAS officers and disaster management officials have been deployed to the worst-affected districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to the Chief Minister and assured full support from the Centre for relief and rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, Surat continued to battle severe flooding after overflowing creeks submerged low-lying areas including Saroli, Saniya Hemad and Velanja. Floodwaters engulfed residential societies, Saroli Police Station, the Khodiyar Mata Temple, and the historic Kumbheshwar Mahadev Temple. Rescue teams shifted residents from Velanja, Limbayat, Varachha, Udhna and Pandesara using boats.

Heavy rain also crippled railway services. Seven trains on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route were cancelled, while several others were delayed after tracks were submerged. More than 50,000 daily commuters remained stranded in Navsari, triggering frustration over the lack of alternative transport.

Western Railway has opened special help desks at Ahmedabad, Sabarmati, Palanpur and Viramgam stations and advised passengers to check the latest train status before beginning their journey. Authorities have warned that the flood threat remains high as more rain is forecast over the next 24 hours.