Gujarat Flood Crisis Deepens as 242 Talukas Receive Rain, Red Alert Issued in Seven Districts

AHMEDABAD : Gujarat continues to battle one of its worst monsoon spells in recent years as relentless rainfall triggered widespread flooding across the state on  Friday. A total of 242 talukas received rainfall between 6 am and 2 pm, while rescue teams raced against time to save stranded residents, recover missing persons, and restore essential services.

According to official rainfall data, Radhanpur in Patan district recorded the highest rainfall of 9 inches, followed by Bhabhar and Deodar in Banaskantha with 7 inches each. Fourteen talukas received between 3 and 6 inches of rain, while 86 talukas recorded 1 to 2 inches.

The flood situation remains critical in Surat and Navsari. Two bodies were recovered in Surat, while the death toll in Navsari rose to four. In a major rescue operation, the Indian Air Force airlifted more than 30 people stranded near Bhat village in Gandevi taluka. Army personnel, NDRF and SDRF teams continue relief operations across flood-hit villages.

“All available agencies have been deployed to rescue stranded residents and provide immediate relief,” officials said.

Floodwaters have caused massive damage in Navsari, where more than 1,000 vehicles were washed away in Gandevi taluka. Nearly 3,000 families remain stranded in Shantadevi, with civic authorities supplying food and essential items to affected households.

In Ahmedabad, heavy rain since early morning flooded several roads and forced the closure of eight underbridges, including Makarba, Parimal and Chandkheda. Fire personnel rescued 55 passengers from a stranded bus near Khokhra, while waterlogging continued to affect residential areas.

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has declared a holiday for all government, aided and private schools and colleges on July 25. AMC-run Anganwadis will remain closed until July 27.

Heavy rainfall also disrupted road transport. The Ahmedabad–Rajkot National Highway was closed near Bavla, where police and SDRF teams rescued around 900 people trapped in floodwaters. Traffic has been diverted through the Dholera Expressway.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Anand, Kheda, Morbi, Surendranagar and parts of Banaskantha, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall. Orange alerts remain in Kutch, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Amreli and Botad.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the emergency response in a high-level meeting and directed officials to speed up rescue efforts and drain waterlogged areas. Authorities have also hoisted LC-3 warning signals at South Gujarat ports, advising fishermen not to venture into the Arabian Sea for the next two days as multiple weather systems continue to fuel the intense monsoon across the state.