Gujarat Floods: 8 Dead, 50,000 Rescued as Red Alert Continues Across State

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat continued to battle severe flooding on Friday as relentless rainfall claimed eight lives, forced the rescue of more than 50,000 people, and disrupted normal life across South Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and North Gujarat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for seven districts, warning of more heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Between 6 am and 12 noon on Friday, rainfall was recorded in 169 talukas, ranging from 1 mm to 2.5 inches. Kaprada in Valsad district received the highest rainfall of 2.20 inches, while Deodar in the Vav-Tharad region recorded 2 inches.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil announced immediate financial assistance for flood-affected families in Navsari district.

“Flood-affected families will receive ₹6,800 for damaged household goods, with ₹1,800 being released immediately. Compensation of ₹37,500 per cow or buffalo and ₹22,000 per goat will also be provided for livestock losses,” Paatil said.

He added that, similar to the special relief package announced for Surat, a proposal would be submitted to the Gujarat government to extend a similar package to Navsari and Valsad districts.

The heavy rainfall also brought road transport to a standstill. A stretch of the Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway near Bavla was closed after floodwaters submerged the road between Bagodara and Sanathal. Around 900 stranded people near Gallops Park in Bavla were rescued in a large-scale operation involving police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams.

Authorities diverted vehicles traveling between Ahmedabad and Rajkot through Bagodara, Vejalka, and the Dholera Expressway to ease congestion.

In Surat, floodwaters continued to disrupt daily life for the third consecutive day. Residents used municipal cattle-catching vehicles and tractors to cross waterlogged roads and reach their workplaces.

“We will drown, but the company will not drown,” frustrated employees remarked while travelling through flooded streets, highlighting the hardships faced by commuters.

Anger also grew among residents of Ahmedabad’s Bopal-Ghuma area, where waist-deep water remained stagnant for two days. Local volunteers used boats to assist stranded families as residents alleged inadequate drainage arrangements by civic authorities.

Across the state, rescue teams evacuated 40,500 people and rescued another 6,367 residents on Friday alone. Several tragic incidents were also reported. A woman died after a tree collapsed in Unjha, while the body of a 70-year-old man missing after a vehicle accident in Virpur was recovered after 26 hours. In Patan district, widespread flooding caused the death of several animals, while multiple rescue operations saved stranded motorists and villagers.

The IMD has forecast continued heavy rainfall on July 25, with a red alert in seven districts, an orange alert in 15 districts, including Ahmedabad and Rajkot, and a yellow alert in 12 districts, including Kutch, Jamnagar, Narmada, and Valsad. Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and avoid unnecessary travel as flood conditions persist across Gujarat.