Authorities in Gujarat have confirmed that the death toll from recent rain-related incidents has reached 35,with the majority of fatalities occurring in the districts of Navsari and Valsad . As floodwaters receded,recovery operations were completed,allowing officials to account for missing persons and retrieve bodies that had been swept away.
Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana reported that most victims succumbed to drowning or were carried off by strong currents. Of the total deaths,29 were reported from Navsari and Valsad, the areas hardest hit by the torrential rains .
With the rainfall subsiding, the focus has shifted to restoration efforts across the state. Authorities have begun assessing damage to crops,homes, and public infrastructure,while also launching cleaning initiatives and spraying pesticides to mitigate risk of waterborne diseases.
During the recent heavy rainfall, over 7,000 individuals were rescued, with the highest number of operations occurring in Navsari and Surat districts. More than 42,000 residents were relocated to safer areas, and rescue efforts are nearing completion, according to Makwana.
The state mobilized 18 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 32 teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with additional support from Indian Army, Coast Guard, and local volunteers. In Navsari,District Collector Manish Gurwani reported that 19 bodies had been recovered,and around 14,000 people were relocated . Nearly 1,200 rescue operations were conducted in collaboration with the NDRF, SDRF, district administration,and local swimmers.
In Valsad, where the death toll stands at 10,District Collector Nitin Sangwan announced that rescue operations have concluded,and damage assessments are underway . Starting Monday,financial assistance will be provided to affected residents,covering compensation for household items,wage losses for up to three days, and livestock deaths. Approximately 20,000 individuals were rescued or relocated in Valsad .
Despite a reduction in rainfall intensity, parts of north Gujarat continue to experience heavy showers. In the 24 hours leading up to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Santalpur and Radhanpur talukas in Patan district recorded 381 mm and 342 mm of rainfall,respectively. Other areas, including Bhabhar in Banaskantha,received 287 mm during the same period.
From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, various locations in Valsad, Banaskantha,and Navsari also reported significant rainfall,with Kaprada and Nanapondha in Valsad receiving 71 mm and 49 mm, respectively.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts,including Banaskantha,Patan,Surendranagar, Mehsana,Kheda,Aravalli,and Sabarkantha. An orange alert is forecast for some of these areas on Sunday .
In Ahmedabad,NDRF teams rescued 103 individuals stranded in flood-affected regions of Dholka taluka. In Navsari,rescue teams saved 120 people and evacuated another 43 from inundated villages, while also recovering bodies of two elderly individuals.
In Patan district, 35 residents from 10 families were relocated from Chhansara village in Santalpur taluka, and a school was evacuated as a precautionary measure. Several roads linking villages remain cut off, and restoration work is ongoing .
