Over 3,400 rescued, nearly 3,900 evacuated as rain batters Surat

Surat, July 8 (IANS) More than 3,400 people have been rescued and nearly 3,900 evacuated after exceptionally heavy rainfall inundated large parts of Surat over the past two days, prompting large-scale rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local authorities.

Officials said Surat city recorded 19 inches of rain in the last 38 hours, while 3,416 people were rescued and 3,862 residents were shifted to safer locations as floodwaters entered residential neighbourhoods.

Authorities also distributed 9,563 food packets to those rescued and accommodated in relief shelters.

In Surat rural district, 7.59 inches of rainfall was recorded during the last 24 hours. In Palsana taluka, 19 people were evacuated, with shelter homes and food packets arranged for them.

The NDRF carried out multiple rescue operations across the city as low-lying areas remained waterlogged. In Godadara, rescue teams evacuated 313 people to safer shelters.

In Pandesara’s Shriram Nagar Society, where floodwaters entered residential premises, the NDRF rescued 85 people, comprising 36 men, 27 women and 22 children.

NDRF Team 06 also conducted flood relief operations in the Mithikhadi area, where women rescuers helped evacuate residents safely. The heavy rainfall also disrupted Surat’s textile trade.

More than 500 shops at the Raghukul Textile Market were inundated after continuous rain over two days, causing extensive damage to stock and infrastructure.

Water levels had begun receding after rainfall eased, allowing traders to assess losses.

Dinesh Kataria, General Secretary of the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association, said the scale of rainfall was unprecedented for the city.

“The city received an estimated 15 to 20 inches of rain yesterday… something we had never imagined would happen in Surat. Such rainfall is usually associated with places like Cherrapunji. The heavy rain caused water to gush in from all sides, flooding basements and even reaching ground-level shops. Many traders have suffered losses worth crores of rupees,” he said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that rainfall over Surat is expected to moderate over the coming days, with no heavy rain warning currently in place for the city after the recent spell.

However, active monsoon conditions are expected to persist across Gujarat, with heavy to very heavy rainfall still likely in parts of south Gujarat and a flash flood risk remaining for some districts.

Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow official advisories.

–IANS

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