Gujarat floods: IAF, Navy, NDRF called in for rescue operations in Rajkot, Jamnagar

So far, over 200 people stranded in the floodwaters have been rescued and more than 7,000 people have been shifted to safer places in the two districts.

New Delhi: A team of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called in for rescue operations in Gujarat's flood-hit districts of Rajkot and Jamnagar. The officials on Tuesday (September 14, 2021) informed that over 200 people stranded in the floodwaters were rescued and more than 7,000 people have been shifted to safer places in the two districts.

The IAF helicopters rescued 22 people stranded at some locations in Jamnagar, officials said, adding that 150 people in all were rescued across the district.

The IAF also rescued seven villagers in Rajkot, while a total of 56 people were rescued all over the district, officials said.

#GUJARATFLOOD
13/09/21#Team6NDRF
Flood Rescue Ops
At Ghachigate khidki near Haji Pur chowk #Jamnagar#Gujarat
Rescued:13 Citizens
OPS Closed@NDRFHQ @PIBAhmedabad @ANI @PTI_News@CollectorJamngr @InfoGujarat #NDRF4U pic.twitter.com/yFPrJksSh5 — 6 NDRF VADODARA (@6NDRFVADODARA) September 13, 2021

"A Navy team was helping in the operation to search for two persons who are missing after their car got washed away in a strong water current in Rajkot on Monday," Collector Arun Mahesh Babu said.

Teams of the Navy and the Coast Guard also assisted the Jamnagar administration in rescuing 150 to 160 people within the city limits as local rescue teams were unable to reach there due to the surge in water level, Jamnagar Collector Sourabh Pardhi said.

#GujaratRains

Rescue teams from #INSValsura in #Jamnagar deployed on #13Sep 21 to assist district administration in rescuing a large number of stranded people in rain affected inundated areas of the city. Food packets were also provided by the teams (1/n).@SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/kBJkQ1DYbB — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) September 14, 2021

As per the latest reports, a national highway in Jamnagar and 18 state highways passing through Rajkot, Jamnagar and Junagadh districts of the Saurashtra region were closed due to flooding, while many villages were cut off as several roads connecting them were inundated.

A bridge over river Fofal has also reportedly collapsed and has forced the closure of a road connecting Jam Kandorna and Gondal in the Rajkot district.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel is visiting the flood-hit areas. 

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel visits flood-affected areas in Jamnagar pic.twitter.com/9BaulBsSPn — ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2021

Rajkot's Lodhika taluka received the maximum rainfall of 516 mm in the state during the 24-hour period ending at 6 am on Tuesday, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said in an update. Visavadar taluka in Junagadh district of Saurashtra received the second-highest downpour at 468 mm, while Kalavad in Jamnagar recorded 406 mm rain, Rajkot taluka-325 mm and Dhoraji in Rajkot-250 mm, the SEOC said.

In view IMD reports @NDRFHQ deploys
in coordination with St Gov 20 Teams across Gujarat
to tackle hvy rains& flooding in several districts
5 tms airlifted fm Punjab
Rescue Ops ON@PMOIndia @HMOIndia @BhallaAjay26 @PIBHomeAffairs @PIBAhmedabad @ANI @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/3mY9R7IEqf — ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्य नारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) September 14, 2021

On Tuesday, Mangrol taluka of Junagadh district received 151 mm rainfall in just four hours since 6 am, while Keshod taluka in Junagadh received 108 mm rainfall during the same period, the SEOC said.

During the 24-hour period ending at 6 am on Tuesday, 35 talukas received over 100 mm rainfall, mainly in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath and Devbhumi Dwarka in Saurashtra region, as well as in south Gujarat's Valsad and Navsari districts, the SEOC said.

Gujarat has so far this monsoon season received 69.24 per cent of the average rainfall, and the downpour this month has helped the state narrow its rain deficiency.

(With agency inputs)