More than 3,400 individuals have been rescued and close to 3,900 evacuated in Surat due to intense rainfall causing flooding over the past two days. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local authorities have been actively engaged in large-scale rescue efforts. Surat city experienced 19 inches of rainfall in 38 hours, leading to the relocation of 3,862 residents to safer areas and the rescue of 3,416 people as floodwaters entered residential zones.
Authorities have provided 9,563 food packets to the rescued individuals who are now housed in relief shelters. In the Surat rural district, 7.59 inches of rain were recorded in the last 24 hours, with 19 people evacuated in Palsana taluka and provided with shelter homes and food supplies. The NDRF conducted numerous rescue operations in low-lying areas of the city, evacuating 313 individuals to secure shelters in Godadara and rescuing 85 people in Pandesara’s Shriram Nagar Society, including men, women, and children.
NDRF Team 06 carried out flood relief operations in the Mithikhadi area, with female rescuers aiding in the safe evacuation of residents. The heavy rainfall also impacted Surat’s textile trade, submerging over 500 shops at the Raghukul Textile Market and causing significant damage to goods and infrastructure. As the rain subsided, water levels began to decrease, allowing traders to assess the extent of their losses.
Dinesh Kataria, General Secretary of the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association, expressed astonishment at the unprecedented rainfall in the city, estimating 15 to 20 inches of rain in a day. He highlighted the extensive losses suffered by traders due to flooding in basements and ground-level shops. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts a reduction in rainfall over Surat in the upcoming days, with no current heavy rain warnings for the city post the recent downpour.
Despite this, active monsoon conditions are expected to persist in Gujarat, with the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of south Gujarat and a continued risk of flash floods in certain districts. Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to stay vigilant and adhere to official guidance.
