Heavy rains pummel parts of South Gujarat; 2,100 people moved to safety in worst-hit Surat

Surat, Jul 7 (PTI) Parts of southern Gujarat received "extremely heavy" rainfall on Tuesday, with the worst affected being Surat district where five persons died in rain-related incidents in two days, while 2,100 people were shifted from flooded areas to safe locations, officials said. Kamrej taluka in Surat district recorded a whopping 305 mm rainfall in 10 hours ending 4 pm on Tuesday, they said. Schools and colleges in Navsari district and Surat remained shut on Tuesday in view of the downpour. "Extremely heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in the districts of South Gujarat region, namely Surat, Valsad, Dadra & Nagar Haveli in the last 24 hours," India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its midday state forecast. Talking to reporters, M Nagarajan, Commissioner of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), said around 2,100 people have been relocated from across different zones to safe shelters. An official from the district disaster management office confirmed that a total of five deaths were reported in rain-related incidents over the past two days. "Two deaths due to electrocution were reported today, while another person died in Kamrej area. On Monday, two individuals died from electrocution in the Rander area of Surat," the official said. According to the data shared by State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar, several talukas in Surat received over 200 mm rainfall during the day. Kamrej taluka in the district received 305 mm rainfall between 6 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, followed by Surat city (260 mm) and Palsana town (205 mm). Navsari taluka in Navsari district also received 195 mm rainfall followed by Jalalpore in the same district recording 177 mm showers. Surat's Bardoli, Mahuva and Ambika received 174 mm, 170 mm and 148 mm rainfall respectively. The SMC Commissioner advised citizens to step out of homes only if necessary considering the downpour. "Surat saw heavy rainfall until 4 pm today with road closures, public transport disruptions and possibility of flashfloods. Citizens are requested to stay safe at home," he said. According to visuals circulating on social media, several areas of Surat witnessed widespread waterlogging on roads and houses. The weather office forecast more showers. "Heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy falls very likely in the districts of South Gujarat region, namely Surat, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi and in Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli; in the district of Saurashtra namely Bhavnagar until 8.30 am on July 8," the midday forecast said. Till July 9 morning, heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely in the districts of South Gujarat, including Dang, Navsari, Valsad and in Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, it added. The southwest monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Gujarat, the IMD said. "Very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in the district of South Gujarat region namely Navsari, Tapi, Valsad, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli; at isolated places in the districts of Saurashtra namely Bhavnagar and Amreli," IMD forecast noted. Due to heavy rainfall, schools and colleges remained closed in Navsari district. In view of the current situation in Navsari district due to heavy rainfall and the 'red alert' issued by the IMD, all anganwadis, schools, colleges, and ITIs in the district were shut on Tuesday as a safety measure, the district authorities said. PTI KVM NP