PM Modi reviews Gujarat floods; 2 more NDRF teams airlifted to Valsad
Synopsis
As South Gujarat reeled under severe monsoon flooding, PM Modi personally called Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assure Central support — and backed it with action: two more NDRF teams airlifted from Delhi, 70 Army personnel with boats, and a 25-member fire brigade, all converging on flood-hit Valsad in a single day.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi spoke with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel on 23 July , assuring full Central Government support for flood relief.
Two additional NDRF teams were airlifted from New Delhi to Valsad , joining 3 NDRF and 5 SDRF teams already on the ground.
An Army contingent of 70 personnel with 5 boats and a 25-member fire service team are also being deployed in Valsad.
Dang saw dozens of roads closed; Navsari's Juj and Keliya dams overflowed with downstream warnings issued; evacuations carried out in Tapi district .
Schools in Surat district closed on Thursday; IMD has forecast continued heavy to very heavy rain over South and central Gujarat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 23 July spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to review the heavy rainfall and flood situation across the state, assuring the Centre's full support for rescue and relief operations. The call came as authorities ramped up emergency deployment in Valsad, one of the districts worst hit by the ongoing South Gujarat monsoon crisis.
Reinforcements Rushed to Valsad
Two additional teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were airlifted from New Delhi and were expected to reach Valsad by Thursday evening. They join three NDRF teams and five teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) already deployed in the district.
An Army contingent of 70 personnel, equipped with five boats, is also being deployed to support rescue efforts. A 25-member fire service team has additionally been dispatched to assist the local administration in managing the flood situation on the ground.
High-Level Reviews and Directives
Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar, where he held discussions with officials and district collectors. He spoke directly with the Collector of Valsad and Minister Naresh Patel to assess rescue operations and directed that additional NDRF teams be deployed if the situation demanded.
Patel also instructed the Collectors of Surat and Navsari to relocate residents from low-lying and waterlogged areas to safer locations wherever necessary. Separately, he spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured the state of all necessary Central assistance for ongoing operations.
Flood Impact Across South Gujarat
Heavy rainfall over the past two days has caused widespread disruption across South Gujarat. In Dang district, dozens of roads were shut due to inundation. In Navsari, the Juj and Keliya dams overflowed, with warnings issued to downstream villages. Rescue teams evacuated flood-affected residents in Tapi district. Schools in Surat district remained closed on Thursday as a precautionary measure.
Weather Forecast and Outlook
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast further heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of South and central Gujarat. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as rescue and relief operations remain active across multiple districts. With the monsoon showing no sign of abating, the scale of deployment is expected to be maintained through the coming days.
Point of View
Backed by Army boats and a fire brigade — signals that authorities are treating the Valsad situation as a serious crisis rather than a routine monsoon event. What warrants scrutiny is whether pre-positioning of disaster assets ahead of the monsoon season was adequate, given that South Gujarat faces near-identical flooding patterns annually. The IMD's forecast of continued heavy rain means the operational window for rescue is narrow, and the real test will be whether the multi-agency deployment translates into swift evacuations before the next rainfall cycle compounds the damage.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PM Modi call Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel on 23 July?
PM Modi called Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to review the heavy rainfall and flood situation in Gujarat and to assure the state of the Central Government's full support for rescue, relief, and public safety operations.
How many NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed in Valsad?
As of 23 July, three NDRF teams and five SDRF teams were already deployed in Valsad. Two additional NDRF teams were airlifted from New Delhi and expected to arrive Thursday evening, bringing the total NDRF presence to five teams.
Which districts in South Gujarat are worst affected by the floods?
Valsad is the most severely affected district, with widespread flooding reported. Dang, Navsari, Tapi, and Surat districts have also been impacted, with road closures, dam overflows, and precautionary school shutdowns reported across the region.
What has the India Meteorological Department forecast for Gujarat?
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of South and central Gujarat in the coming days, meaning flood conditions are likely to persist and authorities remain on high alert.
Who else has assured Gujarat of support besides PM Modi?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and assured the state of all necessary Central Government assistance for ongoing rescue and relief operations.
