Gujarat floods force evacuation of over 40,000, rescue ops by NDRF, army and coast guard

Heavy monsoon rains have battered Gujarat, with districts such as Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Ahmedabad and Patan recording unprecedented rainfall – Umbergaon taluka in Valsad logged 1,200 mm in 36 hours, the third‑highest daily total in India. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) issued red alerts for 10 districts and ordered the release of water from several dams.

State authorities have evacuated more than 40,000 residents to relief shelters. Rescue agencies – 17 NDRF teams, 32 SDRF platoons, Indian Army columns and the Coast Guard – have saved thousands: NDRF rescued 67 people in Navsari, the army evacuated 355 people across Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, the Coast Guard rescued 170 people in the same region, and overall 6,766 persons have been taken to safety. Additional relief measures include round‑the‑clock medical teams, distribution of chlorine tablets and cash assistance, as well as school closures and highway shutdowns (e.g., Ahmedabad‑Viramgam Highway).

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel placed the state in alert mode, reviewing the situation at the SEOC and directing district collectors to maintain high vigilance. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi oversaw flood‑relief operations in Valsad, praising the rescue effort and ordering enhanced sanitation, health camps and rapid debris removal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have pledged central assistance. The floods have also caused limited loss of life, with a few fatalities reported among livestock and isolated injuries to residents.