Gujarat Floods: Death toll rises to 28 amid incessant rains; PM Modi assures Centre's full support

The current spell of rain has led to Gujarat receiving 105 percent of its average annual rainfall.

Rain-related incidents have claimed 26 lives in Gujarat over the past three days as heavy rainfall continues to affect the state. Around 17,800 people have been evacuated from flood-affected areas, with heavy showers lashing parts of the state for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, according to officials.

Among the deceased are seven individuals who went missing when the tractor trolley they were traveling in was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway near Dhavana village in Morbi district's Halvad taluka on Sunday. Their bodies have since been recovered.

Vadodara, despite a pause in rainfall, faced severe flooding in low-lying areas after the Vishwamitri River breached its banks, inundating residential areas, roads, and vehicles. Rescue operations have been ongoing, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and three columns of the Army deployed to assist those stranded.

Over 5,000 people have been evacuated from Vadodara alone, with additional rescue teams and equipment being deployed to the affected areas. The ongoing rescue and relief efforts have involved not only the NDRF and SDRF but also the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

In Saurashtra, districts such as Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Porbandar received between 50 mm and 200 mm of rain within a 12-hour period on Wednesday. Bhanvad taluka in Devbhumi Dwarka recorded the highest rainfall at 185 mm.

The heavy rains have severely impacted infrastructure, with 140 reservoirs and dams, and 24 rivers in the state flowing above danger levels. Traffic and train services have been disrupted, and a significant number of trains have been canceled or rerouted.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted extremely heavy rains in isolated parts of Saurashtra on Thursday, warning that all districts in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions will experience heavy rainfall, with red and yellow alerts issued over the next few days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assess the situation and has assured the Centre’s full support in managing the disaster. CM Patel has instructed the deployment of cleaning and disinfection teams from various municipalities to assist Vadodara as floodwaters recede.

The current spell of rain has led to Gujarat receiving 105 percent of its average annual rainfall. The situation remains dire, with authorities continuing to work around the clock to mitigate the impact and ensure the safety of the state's residents.