Surat Rain Fury: Over 4,000 Evacuated Amid Heavy Rain, Rising River Levels

Surat: More than 4,000 people have been shifted to safer locations in Surat district as heavy rainfall and rising river levels continue to pose a flood threat. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for the district, the administration has been placed on high alert and rescue teams have been deployed in vulnerable areas.

Addressing the media on Saturday, Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar said all precautionary measures have been taken to safeguard residents. People living in villages along the Ambika and Kim rivers, as well as other flood-prone areas, have been evacuated as a precaution.

The Collector said Surat district received an average of 222 mm (about 8 inches) of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending 6 am on Saturday. Ambika taluka recorded the highest rainfall at 565 mm (around 22.5 inches), while other talukas received between 5 and 12 inches of rain. Surat city also recorded around 5 to 6 inches of rainfall during the same period.

Although rainfall intensity had eased briefly on Saturday morning, heavy showers resumed across all talukas after 10 am. With the IMD’s red alert remaining in force, officials are closely monitoring the situation.

Waterlogging has been reported in several low-lying villages of Olpad and Mangrol talukas following the overflow of the Kim River. The administration had begun evacuating residents from vulnerable areas on Friday night and continues to shift people to safer locations wherever required.

The Collector said all major creeks in Surat city are currently flowing below the danger mark. While water levels in some creeks had risen on Friday, the situation is now under control. However, the Singanpore Causeway on the Tapi River has been submerged due to rising river levels.

He added that the water level in the Ukai Dam, considered the lifeline of South Gujarat, stood at 320 feet against its full reservoir level of 333 feet, indicating that the reservoir remains within safe operating limits.

To strengthen rescue and relief operations, an SDRF team has already been stationed at Mandvi, while another team was deployed to Olpad on Saturday morning. Officials from the district administration, including the SDM, TDO, SDRF, police, and other emergency agencies, are continuously monitoring the situation on the ground.

Collector Parmar appealed to residents, particularly those living along the Kim River and in other low-lying areas, to remain vigilant and move to safer places without delay if advised by the authorities. He also urged people to avoid venturing out unless absolutely necessary, as heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue at isolated places in the district. DeshGujarat