Wading through chest-deep water, how fire dept came to rescue of flood-hit Surat resident in need of hospitalisation
Shah's predicament is a reflection of the woes of several Surat residents, especially those living in low-lying areas and near creeks, who have found their homes flooded following two days of incessant rain in the city on Monday and Tuesday.
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Sources said the SMC was working on war footing to clear out the flood water. The health department teams, comprising 125 supervisors and 1,289 cleaning staff, equipped with 23 JCB machines and 44 trucks, were deployed to clean the flood-affected areas, they said. On Wednesday afternoon, 65-year-old Rehman Shah, a resident of Kamrunagar in Limbayat near Mithi Creek in Surat, experienced sudden chest pain. Under normal circumstances, his family would have driven him straight to the hospital. But with his house and the surrounding area flooded up to 4 feet in water, the family contacted the Fire Department’s control room. A team from Mandarwaja reached the spot. A stretcher in hand, a few personnel waded into chest-deep water, lifted the senior citizen from the first floor of the house, and reached the 108 ambulance after a 20-minute walk. Shah was taken to SMIMER Hospital. Doctors said his condition is now stable.
Shah’s predicament is a reflection of the woes of several Surat residents, especially those living in low-lying areas and near creeks, who have found their homes flooded following two days of incessant rain in the city on Monday and Tuesday.
Though the rain abated on Wednesday, a large amount of floodwater remains to be cleared out.
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) teams have been visiting different locations, distributing necessary medicines, and screening residents to ascertain if anyone needs medical help. SMC authorities distributed water bottles, food packets, and milk bags to thousands of residents at their homes on Wednesday.
The areas that have been affected the most are different zones in Limbayat, Udhna, Varachha B, Katargam, and Sarthana. Several people have moved to homes of relatives while others, like the Shahs, are camping on the upper floors of their houses with the lower sections flooded.
On Wednesday afternoon, Surat city mayor Daxesh Mavani and Municipal commissioner Shalini Agrawal visited flood-affected areas and spoke with local residents, assuring them of all necessary support.
According to details from Central Flood Control Room of SMC on Wednesday, the water levels in different creeks in Surat city were noted as: Kakra Creek (Udhna zone) 6.30 meters (danger level 8.48 meters), Bhedwad creek (Udhna zone) 5.40 meters (7.20 meters), Mithi creek (Limbayat zone) 8.85 meters (9.35 meters), Bhatena creek (Limbayat zone) 6.30 meters (8.25 meters), and Simada creek (Varachha Zone) at 4.30 meters (4.50 meters).
Surat city and its talukas received moderate rainfall on Wednesday, averaging 1 to 2 inches in the morning, while no rainfall was observed later in the afternoon. Tapi district, meanwhile, experienced heavy downpour on Wednesday.
Due to the heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, the water level in the ponds and creeks in Surat has risen, resulting in the closure of 68 roads connecting different villages and talukas. Police personnel were deployed at both ends of the roads to prevent entry.
Sources said the SMC was working on war footing to clear out the flood water. The health department teams, comprising 125 supervisors and 1,289 cleaning staff, equipped with 23 JCB machines and 44 trucks, were deployed to clean the flood-affected areas, they said. These teams collected 129 metric tonnes of waste and transported it to designated disposal sites. Additionally, over 9,565 kilograms of germicide powder was sprinkled, and more than 9,257 food packets and 9,950 water bottles were distributed to affected residents.
Over 36 medical response teams carried out health-related activities in these areas, including 236 surveillance workers who surveyed approximately 66,929 people and distributed 37,468 chlorine tablets. The health teams also provided medicines to 330 people suffering from various illnesses, including fever, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, cough and cold, the sources said. The residents were given tips on maintaining cleanliness and advised to drink boiled water.
No casualties have been reported from Surat city in the flood, they said.
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