NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, AUG 29
Even as the death toll in the Gujarat floods touched 28 on Thursday and the rains have eased, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel highlighted the ongoing crisis caused by heavy rains and the assurance of help given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Army mobilises eight columns to support relief operations
- Indian Coast Guard continues rescue operations, saves 74 lives
- CM leads ministerial team to oversee relief-rescue missions in Vadodara city
The situation in rain-battered Gujarat improved a little on Thursday as the rains have eased, but floodwaters were yet to recede in several areas, including Vadodara city following the incessant showers of the last three days, officials said.
મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલ કચ્છ જિલ્લામાં ભારે વરસાદ અને સંભવિત વાવાઝોડાની આગાહીને પગલે વડોદરાથી સીધા ગાંધીનગર ખાતેના સ્ટેટ ઇમરજન્સી ઓપરેશન સેન્ટર પહોંચ્યા હતા. મુખ્યમંત્રીશ્રીએ કચ્છ જિલ્લા કલેકટરશ્રી સાથે વિડિયો કોન્ફરન્સ કરીને આ કુદરતી આફત સામે તંત્રની સજજતાની સમીક્ષા… pic.twitter.com/LeLTotwPNZ
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) August 29, 2024
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel conducted an aerial survey of Kutch, Jamnagar and adjoining Devbhumi Dwarka districts to assess the damage.
મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલે જામનગર અને દેવભૂમિ દ્વારકા જિલ્લાઓમાં થયેલ ભારે વરસાદને કારણે સર્જાયેલી સ્થિતિનું હવાઈ નિરીક્ષણ કરી પરિસ્થિતિનો તાગ મેળવ્યો હતો.#SafeGujarat pic.twitter.com/sp0vSqXyzN
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) August 29, 2024
Barring the coastal areas of Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, rains subsided during the day, officials said.
મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલ આજે ગૃહ રાજયમંત્રી શ્રી હર્ષભાઈ સંઘવી સાથે વડોદરા ખાતે ભારે વરસાદના પગલે વિશ્વામિત્રી નદીમાં આવેલા પૂરથી અસર પામેલા નાગરિકોને મળ્યા હતા. મુખ્યમંત્રીશ્રીએ અસરગ્રસ્તો પ્રત્યે સહાનુભૂતિ પાઠવતાં રાજ્ય સરકાર તરફથી તમામ પ્રકારની મદદની ખાતરી આપી હતી.… pic.twitter.com/oxyZDMJl2A
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) August 29, 2024
In the evening, CM Patel visited Vadodara where floodwaters of the Vishwamitri river had wreaked havoc in the last two days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Patel and took stock of the situation.
મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલે ભારે વરસાદથી અસરગ્રસ્ત દેવભૂમિ દ્વારકા જિલ્લાની મુલાકાત લઈ ખંભાળીયા ખાતે રામનગર અને કણઝાર ચેકપોસ્ટ વિસ્તારના લોકોને મળીને તેમના ખબરઅંતર પૂછ્યા હતા. મુખ્યમંત્રીશ્રીએ સ્થળાંતર કરાવીને રાખવામાં આવેલ લોકો માટેના ‘શેલ્ટર હોમ’ની મુલાકાત લઈ તંત્ર… pic.twitter.com/zvkP0OrLFp
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) August 29, 2024
In a post on X, CM Patel said, “Gujarat has been receiving incessant rains for the last three days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called me up today on the second straight day and inquired about the situation.
“He expressed concern over the floods in Vishwamitri river and wanted to know about the relief and rescue measures being taken for the people of Vadodara,” the CM said.
The PM took stock of the relief measures in all the districts of the state and assured all help. He also instructed that proper sanitation measures be taken to ensure that diseases do not spread after the floods, Patel added.
Due to a deep depression over Saurashtra and Kutch region, three coastal districts — Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar — have been receiving heavy rainfall during the last two days, said a release by the IMD, adding that parts of this region would receive “heavy to very heavy” rains on Friday too.
It was followed by 404 mm of rain in Abdasa taluka of Kutch district, 355 mm in Dwarka taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district, 303 mm in Bhanvad of Devbhumi Dwarka district, 275 mm in Kalyanpur taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka, 275 mm in Lakhpat taluka of Kutch, 259 mm in Khambhalia taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka, 234 mm in Jam Jodhpur of Jamnagar district and 183 mm in Kalavad taluka of Jamnagar.
Responding to distress alert from #FisheriesDepartment @IndiaCoastGuard swiftly carried out a #SearchandRescue operation, rescuing 02 fishermen from the flooded fishing boat Mauli, 12 nm South West of #Ratnagiri. The operation, executed by #ICG's #ALH Helicopter, was completed… pic.twitter.com/iUb852caZQ
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 29, 2024
Teams of Army, ICG, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), its state counterpart SDRF along with local administration are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the worst-affected districts of Vadodara, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Kutch, officials said.
*Risking lives to Save Lives*
#28/08/2024
*RescueMission#Gujarat floods*
🚣♀#Team06NDRF, rescued *516* citizens from water logged areas of Vadodara, Morbi, Kutch, Junagarh & Dwarka districts @Gujarat. Providing hope & shelter during heavy rainfall.@NDRFHQ@CollectorVad pic.twitter.com/cKNZ7Dh0Ey— 06 NDRF VADODARA (@06NDRF) August 28, 2024
In a release, the State Emergency Operations Centre said as many as 1,785 people were rescued on Thursday while 13,183 people were shifted to safer places in view of rainfall and waterlogging.
More than 50,000 people have been relocated and around 4,200 people were rescued from flood-affected areas in the state so far, said the release. In some cases, helicopters were used by the security forces to take people to safer locations.
CM Patel conducted an aerial inspection of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts and held review meetings.
At a meeting in Jamnagar, the CM was informed that 12 persons were airlifted while 450 people were rescued in the district during the day, said an official release, adding that nearly 2,300 persons were shifted to safer places and two lakh food packets were distributed.
Later, the CM along with chief secretary Raj Kumar reached Dwarka collector’s office to take stock of the situation. At the meeting, the CM was informed that 130 persons were rescued with the help of NDRF as well as the Coast Guard while 1,596 persons were shifted to safer places.
At Meghpar-Titodi village of Kalyanpur taluka, eight persons stranded in floodwaters were airlifted with the help of a Coast Guard helicopter, said the release.
From Dwarka, the CM reached Vadodara city where he met a few affected residents. He then held a review meeting with top officials and took stock of the measures being taken by the administration to restore normalcy.
Army mobilises eight columns to support relief operations
In consonance with its firm resolve to mitigate hardships felt by local people during times of natural disasters, Indian Army launched itself into flood relief operations in multiple districts of Gujarat. The Indian Army mobilised eight columns to support relief operations following a request from Gujarat Civil Administration. These teams have been providing critical humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Vadodara, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Rajkot, Morbi and Bhuj. Besides the manpower and flood relief equipment, these specialist teams consist of engineering resources and medical expertise. The columns are committed to adapting to evolving needs of the flood-affected areas.
Vadodara has been hit the hardest due to rapid rise in water levels of Vishwamitri river. Indian Army has successfully rescued over 200 persons from flood affected areas to safer places. Essential food supplies including ready to eat meals have been provided. Door-to door medical examination has been conducted and essential medicines have been distributed to ensure well-being of affected communities. The aim of the rescue and relief efforts is to restore normalcy admist the relentless downpour and rising water levels. The Indian Army will continue to assist the local administration to restore essential services at the earliest.
Indian Coast Guard continues rescue operations, saves 74 lives
In the thick of adverse weather conditions in the state of Gujarat, Indian Coast Guard continued rescue operations to save precious lives both at sea and in land, thereby evacuating of stranded people from distressed boats and from deluged areas over land. Morning of 29 August 2024 saw ALH helicopter rescuing 04 crew onboard Fishing Boat ‘Dostana’, stranded 30 km SW of Dwaraka in a precarious condition.
Further, back to back helicopter Operations saw another 24 persons, including 05 women & 02 children being evacuated from Dumthar, Thepada & Kutiyana villages. While majority were stranded on rooftops, some of the civilians were even holding on to pillars for safety.
It is worthy to note that between 28 & 29 August 2024, as of now, a total of 57 stranded people & 17 fishermen from sea have been evacuated to safety zone by the Indian Coast Guard.
વડોદરા ભારે વરસાદને પગલે પાણી ભરાતાં અમદાવાદ ફાયર બ્રિગેડ ની ટીમ રાત્રી દરમિયાન અમદાવાદ થી વડોદરા પહોંચી વહેલી સવારે અંધારા જેવો માહોલ હોવા છતાં ફસાયેલા નગરજનોને રેસ્ક્યુ કરી સલામત સ્થળે ખસેડવામાં આવ્યા હતા.@VMCVadodara#amc #amcforpeople #trending #vadodarafloodrelief… pic.twitter.com/L6RPaYrvKk
— Amdavad Municipal Corporation (@AmdavadAMC) August 29, 2024