Gujarat Braces for More Rain as Mangrol Records 22 Inches, Flood Rescue Operations Intensify

AHMEDABAD : Gujarat’s monsoon has turned fierce, unleashing widespread flooding, cutting off villages, washing away roads and triggering large-scale rescue operations across the state. Coastal Mangrol in Junagadh district emerged as the worst-hit region after receiving more than 22 inches of rainfall in just 24 hours, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded a red alert for six districts, warning of more extremely heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.

According to official data, rainfall was recorded in 225 talukas across Gujarat in the 24 hours ending at 6 am on Saturday, with 168 talukas receiving significant showers. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said 14 talukas received between five and 10 inches of rain, while 85 talukas recorded one to five inches.

The IMD has issued a red alert for Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari, Valsad and Bhavnagar, while an orange alert remains in force for Aravalli, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Porbandar, Rajkot and Devbhumi Dwarka. A yellow alert has been issued for several other districts. Fishermen have also been advised to stay away from the sea until July 7 due to rough weather and high waves.

Mangrol has received 103% of its seasonal average rainfall in just three days, resulting in severe flooding. The Dwarka-Somnath National Highway near Hussainabad and the bridge over the Noli River were washed away, disrupting connectivity to several villages. Authorities shifted residents from low-lying areas to safer locations using boats.

Emergency teams carried out multiple rescue operations in Junagadh district, safely evacuating 29 people, including 19 villagers stranded in Samadhiala and 10 ONGC employees trapped in floodwaters near Buri village.

“The affected areas were reached promptly, and all stranded individuals were rescued safely,” disaster management officials said, adding that NDRF and SDRF teams remain deployed in vulnerable locations.

Heavy rainfall also disrupted normal life elsewhere. The Rander-Katargam causeway in Surat was closed to traffic, while around 20 rural roads became inaccessible. In Bharuch’s Valia taluka, several homes were inundated and two houses collapsed after floodwaters entered residential areas. In Patan, lightning caused a wall of a government primary school to collapse, while three buffaloes were killed in Tharad after being struck by lightning.

The coastal situation remains tense as Danger Signal No. 3 has been hoisted at Jafrabad port in Amreli district. Waves exceeding 10 feet have forced authorities to anchor over 700 fishing boats, including around 300 pulled ashore as a precaution.

Meanwhile, rainfall has significantly improved water storage across Gujarat. The Sardar Sarovar Dam is now at 64.11% of its capacity, while the average storage across 206 reservoirs has reached 36.09%.

With 10 NDRF teams and 25 SDRF teams deployed statewide and additional teams kept on standby, authorities have urged residents to avoid flooded roads, stay away from low-lying areas and follow official advisories until the weather improves.