Rain havoc continues in South Gujarat: Woman killed in landslide in Valsad, 2 men swept away in Navsari

A young man had climbed an electric pole near a car showroom in Salvav, Vapi town of Valsad on Wednesday, to save himself from being swept away. The  Valsad district administration requisitioned a helicopter from the Coast Guard in the Union Territory of Daman for his rescue, as boats could not reach the area.

According to the details received from the Valsad District Flood Control Room, 55-year-old Ladkiben Sitabhai Thotga died after a landslide at a hill in Kosimpada Phalia of Tisari Jungle village of Kaprada taluka. Another woman, Phuliben Dineshbhai Batari, was admitted to the Civil Hospital in Valsad for treatment with a leg injury.

Landslides were also reported from Likhvad village in Kaprada and in Chepa village in the same taluka where a family had to be rescued after their house collapsed.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall for Valsad, Surat and Navsari districts for Friday as well, though they have been placed under an Orange Alert.

Bridge collapse

The middle span of a major bridge over the Varoli river on the Solasumba-Bhathi-Karambeli road of Umargam taluka in Valsad collapsed on Thursday.

The bridge is situated on one of the routes connecting Umergam to Sanjan, the coastal town which holds historical importance for Parsis.

According to Bhaveshbhai Patel, Executive Engineer of the Road and Building Department of Valsad District Panchayat, the bridge is 180 meters long with 10 spans. On July 22, heavy rainfall was recorded in Umargam taluka, causing heavy flow of river water which pulled away a T-beam girder and a deck slab, officials said. Another slab was also shifted from its original position due to the force.

Officials reached the spot and stopped the traffic on the bridge by setting up warning boards and other necessary security arrangements. No one was injured in the bridge collapse.

A detailed technical assessment of the bridge has been started by the Panchayat Road and Building Department. As the water level decreases, restoration and repair work will be carried out, officials said.

Diversions announced 

Due to the bridge collapse,  following alternative routes have been announced for vehicular traffic.

(1) To go towards Bhathi / Humran: Sanjan-Aamgam main district road, Bhilad-Sanjan-Umargam State Highway, Solsumba-Tembhi main district road and Solsumba-Gangadevi railway gate which is a rural road connecting Bhathi-Karambeli road.

(2) To go towards Sanjan / Bhilad: From Solsumba-Gangadevi railway gate, proceed via the rural road connecting Bhathi-Karambeli road, Solsumba-Tembhi main district road and Bhilad-Sanjan-Umargam state highway.

Army deployed

A government statement said 70 Army jawans had been deployed, along with a team of 25 firemen in the Valsad district, for rescue operations.

“All three rivers, Daman Ganga, Par and Auranga, are flowing above the danger level, causing a flood-like situation in different talukas, including Valsad town. Three teams of SDRF and three teams of NDRF are on their toes to carry out rescue and relief operations. So far, no casualties have been reported, but we have sought a chopper from Mumbai, which will land shortly, and it will be used during emergencies,”  Nitin V Sangwan, District Collector, Valsad, said.

Hundreds of cars parked on the roadside and in the basements of residential and commercial complexes were submerged in the rainwater. The water entered the houses in low-lying areas.

All industrial and commercial establishments, schools, and colleges remained shut in the district. Over 500 district and taluka panchayat roads were closed to traffic and barricaded to prevent accidents.

Three NDRF and five SDRF teams were currently deployed in Valsad district, even as the state government sent in five more boats for rescue.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Finance Minister Kanu Desai, and the in-charge minister of Valsad district, Naresh Patel, also reached the district and visited different areas affected by the downpour.

The ministers also met with the district administration and ensured that affected people were shifted to shelter homes and that they received proper care.

A waterlogged Surat

Two weeks after the heavy rain-triggered floods in the creek claimed nearly 40 lives in Surat, the city was waterlogged again following continuous rainfall since Wednesday night, disrupting traffic and forcing road closures.

In a grim reminder of the previous floods, hundreds of cars and bikes were submerged in flooded basement parking lots.

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) shifted 2,392 people from affected areas to shelter homes by Thursday morning.

Evacuations were carried out from low-lying areas across six city zones. As many as 890 people were shifted from the Pandesara, Bhestan, and Sachin areas alone, including textile units and the GIDC industrial estate. Over 16 boats were deployed to move residents from rainwater-affected areas.

Sources in the civic body said one NDRF team and three SDRF teams were on alert in flood-affected areas across the city. The civic body distributed over 1,100 food packets, 1,550 drinking water bottles and 1,250 milk pouches among affected residents. During surveillance, more than 30 people found unwell were provided with on-the-spot medical assistance.

Waterlogging was reported at 60 locations across the city, with eight spots cleared so far. The SMC has closed over 24 roads and suspended city bus and BRTS services on affected routes.

Civic body sources said 77 JCB machines, 249 trucks, and tractors were deployed in rain-affected areas. More than 37 dewatering pumps were also put into operation at residential basements, shopping complexes, and other locations to drain accumulated water.

Thousands evacuated in Navsari

Manish Gurwani, Collector, Navsari, said two men were washed away amid the heavy flow of water after they removed the barricade ahead of a road connecting Ganpur to Linjar village in Vansda taluka in the district.

Over 230 panchayat roads and 12 state highway roads at various locations have been blocked to the public amid heavy rain in Navsari. Hundreds of cars and other vehicles were submerged in the water in the district.

The district administration has closed all schools, colleges, and other educational institutions amid the red alert declared by the IMD.

The rainfall on Thursday morning was recorded at 17 inches in Vansda and 14 inches in Khergam, while other talukas received around 7 inches each.

The water level in the Purna River was at 25 feet, above the danger level of 23 feet; the Ambika at 39 feet, above the danger level of 28 feet; and the Kaveri at 29 feet, above the danger level of 19 feet. Juj and Keliya dams were also overflowing.