CM Shri Bhupendra Patel Reviews Statewide Rescue and Relief Efforts in Response to Heavy Rains

Gandhinagar : Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel conducted a video conference with District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners from the State Emergency Operations Center to review the administration’s statewide rescue and relief efforts in response to the heavy rains. The Chief Minister was briefed on the quick actions taken by District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners in metropolitan cities, including relocating people to safety, conducting rescues, and providing essential supplies, relief kitchens, and other support. Chief Secretary Shri Raj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Pankaj Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri M.K. Das, and senior secretaries from departments such as revenue, energy, health, water supply, and road construction attended the meeting.

During the review meeting led by the Chief Minister, it was reported that by 10 a.m. on August 27, the state had received approximately 99.66 percent of the total expected seasonal rainfall.

The Kutch region has received 116.79 percent of its average seasonal rainfall, North Gujarat 79.99 percent, Saurashtra 101.52 percent, South Gujarat 108.20 percent, and Central Gujarat 98.74 percent. Over the past 24 hours, 251 talukas across 33 districts received rainfall, with Tankara taluka in Morbi district recording the highest at 347 mm. The average rainfall over the last 24 hours was 94.20 mm. Between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Rajkot taluka saw the highest rainfall of 142 mm.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel reviewed the situation and observed that 15 rivers and 21 lakes and dams in the state have overflowed due to heavy rains. He instructed District Collectors to ensure full vigilance and caution to prevent anyone from entering these rivers, canals, and lakes.

Currently, 206 reservoirs in the state have reached 72.73% of their water storage capacity. 76 reservoirs are at full capacity, 96 are on high alert, and 19 are on alert.

The state government has been allocated 6 Army columns for rescue operations, while 14 NDRF platoons and 22 SDRF platoons have also supported disaster management efforts. Six Army columns have been deployed to Devbhoomi Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi, and Rajkot districts for rescue and relief efforts. Additionally, the Navy and Coast Guard have joined in the rescue and relief operations.

Most people have been relocated in the Panchmahal district. The Air Force has helped with rescue operations in Vadodara and Jamnagar.
So far, 23,871 people have been relocated to safety and 1,696 people have been rescued, according to the review meeting.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has urged citizens to remain cautious and prioritize safety as heavy rain forecasts and warnings continue across the state. He also advised that it is important to adhere to the guidelines set by the disaster management system and to cooperate with the district administration during evacuations to safe areas. In the state, seven people have died due to wall collapses, drowning, and falling trees caused by the heavy rains. The Chief Minister has directed that assistance payments be processed quickly according to specified procedures.

The CM directed the District Collectors in coastal areas to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea until 30/08/2024. The Collectors are tasked with enforcing the Meteorological Department’s warning strictly. He also reviewed the impact of heavy rains on power supply across villages and towns. Power was disrupted in 8,824 villages, with service restored in 7,806. Of the 6,615 damaged power poles, 6,033 have been repaired. The Chief Minister instructed the Road Construction Department to prioritize repairs urgently to restore vehicular traffic as soon as the rains subside. This includes addressing the 806 roads currently closed due to fallen trees and other damage.

To prevent disease outbreaks from rainwater inundation, he also directed the district administrations to prepare for water disposal, water chlorination, soil silt removal, and the spraying of medicine to control mosquito infestations. To support this, the Chief Minister recommended that the Health Department manage the distribution of essential medicines to the districts. The Chief Minister commended the swift efforts of the district and city administrative systems in handling the current situation. He instructed the District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to remain on high alert and implement a zero-casualty approach in managing the rain-related emergency.

Chief Secretary Shri Raj Kumar urged District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to remain updated with the Meteorological Department’s forecasts and to plan in advance for addressing rainy conditions in their districts and cities. He advised that with the threat of a rain disaster looming over the state in the next two to three days, all officials must prepare their district response teams. Representatives from the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army also remained in the meeting.
 

Source: Information Department, Gujarat