Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel seeks Centre's aid as heavy rain batters South Gujarat
Synopsis
Heavy monsoon rains have pushed South Gujarat into crisis mode — dams overflowing, roads shut, and people rescued from flooded villages. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally reviewed the situation and called Home Minister Amit Shah for Central support, signalling the scale of disruption the state is grappling with this monsoon season.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 23 July , seeking Central assistance for rain-hit South Gujarat .
Amit Shah assured the state of all necessary Central Government support for rescue and relief operations.
47 roads in Dang district were closed to traffic due to heavy rainfall.
The Juj and Keliya dams in Navsari district overflowed; residents near the Purna River were put on alert.
11 people were rescued from Dhodiyawad Faliya in Tapi district's Dolvan taluka .
The IMD has forecast continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over South and central Gujarat.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday, 23 July reached out to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking Central Government support for rescue and relief operations as heavy monsoon rainfall continued to batter several parts of the state, with South Gujarat bearing the brunt of the deluge. Shah assured Patel of all necessary assistance from the Centre.
CM Reviews Situation at State Emergency Operation Centre
Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Patel visited the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar to review the rainfall impact and oversee the coordinated response across affected districts. Chief Secretary M. K. Das and senior secretaries were present at the review meeting.
During the review, Patel held separate telephonic conversations with Minister Naresh Patel and the Collectors of Valsad, Surat, and Navsari districts to assess ground conditions and the progress of relief operations. He instructed district collectors to prioritise shifting residents from low-lying and waterlogged areas to safer locations. He also indicated that additional teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) would be deployed if the situation demands.
Roads Blocked, Dams Overflow, Rescues Underway
In Dang district, the district administration reported that 47 roads under the Panchayat Roads and Buildings Department were closed to traffic due to heavy rain, though an obstruction on the Waghai–Ahwa road was cleared later in the morning.
In Navsari district, the Juj and Keliya dams overflowed following persistent rainfall in the district and upstream catchment areas. Authorities warned of increased water flows in downstream stretches of the Purna River and advised residents in vulnerable riverside villages and low-lying areas to remain alert and comply with any evacuation instructions issued.
Rescue operations were conducted in Tapi district, where 11 people were rescued from Dhodiyawad Faliya in Dolvan taluka.
Schools Shut, IMD Issues Continued Rain Alert
In Surat district, educational authorities declared a holiday for primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools, as well as Anganwadi centres, on Thursday as a precautionary measure due to heavy rainfall.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of South and central Gujarat. Authorities are maintaining close monitoring of the evolving situation as rescue and relief efforts continue across the affected districts.
What Happens Next
With the IMD warning of sustained heavy rainfall, the deployment of additional NDRF teams remains on standby. District administrations across South Gujarat have been placed on high alert, and the state government is expected to keep the Centre updated as the monsoon situation develops in the coming days.
Point of View
But the details underneath signal a situation that is straining district-level capacity — dams overflowing, dozens of roads closed, and active rescues underway across multiple districts simultaneously. The real accountability question is whether NDRF pre-positioning ahead of the monsoon was adequate, given that South Gujarat is a perennial flood-risk zone. Reactive deployment, rather than pre-emptive staging, has historically cost critical hours in past Gujarat flood events. The IMD's forecast of continued heavy rain means this situation could escalate before it improves.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel contact Home Minister Amit Shah?
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called Home Minister Amit Shah on 23 July to brief him on the heavy rainfall situation in South Gujarat and to seek Central Government assistance for ongoing rescue and relief operations. Shah assured Patel of all necessary support from the Centre.
Which districts in Gujarat are most affected by the heavy rain?
South Gujarat districts — including Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Dang, and Tapi — are the worst affected. Dang reported 47 road closures, Navsari saw two dams overflow, and Tapi district required active rescue operations.
How many people were rescued in Gujarat due to the flooding?
At least 11 people were rescued from Dhodiyawad Faliya in Dolvan taluka of Tapi district. Rescue operations were ongoing across multiple districts as of 23 July.
What is the IMD forecast for Gujarat's rainfall?
The India Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of South and central Gujarat, keeping authorities on high alert and rescue teams on standby.
Were schools closed due to the heavy rain in Gujarat?
Yes, educational authorities in Surat district declared a holiday on Thursday for primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools, as well as Anganwadi centres, as a precautionary measure due to heavy rainfall.
