Gujarat: Heavy rains claim 49 lives, over 37,000 rescued
Heavy rainfall in Gujarat in August last week has resulted in the loss of 49 lives and significant infrastructure damage. The downpours were triggered by a deep depression that formed over the Gujarat-Rajasthan border and later moved into the Arabian Sea, eventually becoming Cyclonic Storm Asna. State Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey confirmed these details during a press conference at the Gandhinagar-based State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC).
Compensation and rescue efforts underway in Gujarat
Pandey reported that compensation of ₹4 lakh each has already been paid to the families of 22 victims. Additionally, a total of ₹1.78 crore was disbursed to owners of 2,618 livestock that perished in the floods. He also stated that multiple agencies, including 17 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 27 from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), nine Army columns, and additional Indian Air Force (IAF) and Coast Guard teams were deployed for rescue operations.
Damage assessment and aid distribution in progress
Pandey also revealed that surveys are being conducted in rain-affected districts to assess the damage caused to both temporary and permanent houses. He stated, "An assistance worth ₹3.67 crore has been distributed to the owners of 4,673 affected houses and huts." These surveys are being carried out by 1,120 teams across various districts including Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Anand, Kutch, Kheda among others.
Infrastructure damage and weather alerts in Gujarat
The heavy rains have damaged roads spanning 2,230km, which are expected to be repaired within the next 10 days. Power outages affected 6,931 villages and 17 cities, with electricity now restored in most areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for places like Bharuch and Valsad as rains continue to batter parts of Gujarat.
IMD issues red alert for Bharuch, Valsad
The IMD has issued a red alert for places such as Bharuch and Valsad as rains continue to batter parts of Gujarat. A study by the Machine Intelligence and Resilience Laboratory (MIR Lab) at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) found that 12 of Gujarat's 33 districts experienced one-day rainfall totals exceeding the 10-year return period. This statistical measure is used to gauge the frequency of such extreme events.
