Centre Sends Urgent Team To Gujarat To Assess Flood And Rainfall Damage

Following heavy rainfall and flooding in Gujarat, a central team from the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by the National Institute of Disaster Management, will assess the impact in the state's most affected districts.

Inter-ministerial teams have previously visited Assam, Kerala, Mizoram, and Tripura to assess flood and landslide damage. Now, the Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a central team to evaluate the impact of heavy rainfall and flooding in Gujarat.

Photo Credit: PTI

This team, led by the Executive Director of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), will visit the most affected districts for an on-the-spot assessment. Between August 25 and 30, Gujarat experienced severe rainfall due to a deep depression over the state and neighbouring Rajasthan, as reported by Hindustan Times.

This weather event caused widespread flooding and damage across Gujarat, with Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan also receiving heavy rainfall during this period. The Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation closely and may send inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs) to these states if necessary.

Impact on Gujarat

The heavy rainfall in Gujarat led to significant disruption across the state. Many towns and villages were submerged, particularly in Kutch district where Mundra taluka recorded 26 mm of rainfall within hours. Other areas like Veraval, Dwarka, and Dantiwada also faced substantial rainfall, resulting in waterlogging and flooding, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the flood situation in his Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Friday. He instructed local authorities to take immediate measures to restore normalcy. These measures include draining floodwaters, cleaning roads and drains, and conducting fogging and pesticide spraying to prevent disease outbreaks.

Government Response

"Taking stock of the current situation, Shah gave necessary instructions to restore public life, prevent epidemics and resolve the issue being faced by the citizens immediately," a BJP release stated. Despite reduced rainfall on Friday, many areas in Gujarat remained waterlogged due to swollen rivers.

Vadodara faced a flood-like situation because of the overflowing Vishwamitri river but is gradually recovering as water levels recede. The Ministry of Home Affairs has assured that it is prepared to send IMCTs to assess damages in other states if needed, as per media reports.

This year has seen IMCTs dispatched to various states including Assam, Kerala, Mizoram, and Tripura for similar assessments. The deep depression that caused heavy rains in Gujarat also affected Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan with significant rainfall during this period.

The ministry's proactive approach aims at ensuring timely assistance and effective management of disaster situations across affected regions. The inter-ministerial central team will provide a comprehensive evaluation of damages in Gujarat to facilitate appropriate relief measures, as per media reports.

The government continues its efforts to mitigate the impact of natural disasters through coordinated actions involving multiple agencies. These steps are crucial for restoring normalcy in affected areas and preventing further hardships for residents.