Surat Flood Fury Targets BJP MLA

SURAT : Three days of relentless flooding have turned anger into outrage in Surat’s Pandesara, where flood-hit residents confronted BJP MLA Manu Patel over what they described as the complete absence of administrative support during one of the city’s worst urban flood crises. With homes submerged, food supplies exhausted and basic services crippled, frustrated women openly challenged the legislator, accusing authorities of abandoning them when they needed help the most.

The confrontation unfolded in Ward No. 28 of Pandesara when Manu Patel arrived to assess the flood situation. A large group of women surrounded the MLA, questioning why neither elected representatives nor government officials had visited their locality despite floodwaters remaining inside residential areas for three consecutive days.

“Our homes remained underwater, we had no food or drinking water, and nobody even came to see us,” several women told the MLA, expressing deep resentment over what they called administrative apathy. They alleged that leaders vanish during disasters while ordinary citizens are left to fend for themselves.

Attempting to calm the agitated residents, Manu Patel defended the administration’s response. He said rescue teams had prioritised families facing the most severe flooding and shifted them to safer locations.

“Seven government and private schools have been converted into relief shelters where accommodation and food have been arranged for affected families,” the MLA said.

However, residents rejected the explanation, insisting that relief efforts had failed to reach their neighbourhood.

Addressing compensation, Patel urged residents to cooperate with government survey teams expected to visit the area.

“Survey officials will come today or tomorrow. Ensure your houses are surveyed. Only those whose losses are officially recorded will receive government compensation,” he told the gathering.