Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited Valsad to oversee flood relief efforts following heavy rainfall that caused significant flooding in the district. He instructed officials to expedite cleaning activities, set up health camps, and ensure prompt distribution of aid to affected residents as floodwaters subside. Sanghavi, acting on Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s instructions, conducted a review meeting at the District Collector’s Office to evaluate the administration’s response to the crisis.
State Finance, Urban Development, and Urban Housing Minister Kanu Desai also participated in the meeting to discuss the situation. District Collector Nitin Sangwan informed Sanghavi that Umargam experienced a record-breaking 1,064 mm of rainfall in a single day, while Kaprada taluka received the season’s highest rainfall of 2,566 mm. The heavy rainfall, combined with water release from the Madhuban Dam, led to overflowing rivers and extensive flooding in low-lying areas of the district.
The district administration successfully evacuated 12,376 individuals to safety in a single day, with no major accidents or casualties reported. Sanghavi commended the administration for the efficient rescue operation, emphasizing the need to focus on restoring normalcy in flood-affected areas through sanitation initiatives and public health measures. He stressed the importance of post-flood cleaning operations and instructed officials to mobilize resources for sanitation work promptly.
Sanghavi directed municipal authorities to deploy additional temporary sanitation workers, clear mud and waste from affected areas, intensify cleaning efforts in Umargam, and ensure proper garbage collection. He also called for health check-up camps in severely impacted regions and proper disposal of damaged belongings and spoiled food to prevent disease outbreaks. The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized the urgent distribution of financial aid and ration kits to affected families, ensuring assistance reaches all residents, including those in remote villages.
Around 17 senior state government officers were deployed to support restoration efforts in Valsad, with Sanghavi expressing confidence in the district’s swift recovery. He advised officials to engage with insurance companies to expedite claims settlement for traders and shopkeepers affected by the floods. During his visit, Sanghavi met stranded passengers at Valsad railway station, where he learned that train services to Mumbai had resumed. Valsad MP Dhaval Patel informed him about the distribution of food packets to stranded passengers.
The Deputy Chief Minister also inspected the water flow at Chhipwad and the Auranga River bridge to assess the flood situation on the ground.
