Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik on Friday, 25 July 2025, reviewed the state's ongoing flood relief and rescue operations at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar, as parts of Gujarat continued to reel under extremely heavy rainfall. While conditions have begun to improve in some districts, authorities have maintained a high level of preparedness across the state.

High-Level Review at SEOC

The review meeting at the SEOC brought together senior officials including Additional Chief Secretary Dr Jayanti Ravi, DGP (Law and Order) Rajkumar Pandian, Inspector General of Police Makarand Chauhan, Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana, and other senior functionaries. The session focused on flood-hit districts of south Gujarat — particularly Valsad, Surat, and Navsari — as well as Ahmedabad and other rain-affected areas.

Earlier that morning at 9 am, Malik had chaired a video conference with all Police Commissioners, Range Inspectors General, and District Superintendents of Police, directing them to remain on the ground and sustain operations with full alertness.

What the DGP Said

'The safety of citizens is our top priority. The Gujarat Police and the administrative machinery are working as one team to carry out the best possible relief and rescue operations across the state,' Malik said after the review.

He noted that while the situation in Valsad, Surat, Navsari, and other parts of south Gujarat was gradually stabilising, police and administrative authorities would remain on alert and continue to monitor developments closely.

Rescue Priorities and Ground Operations

On the ground, police personnel and disaster management teams have been prioritising the evacuation of senior citizens, women, and children to safer locations. Teams have also been engaged in delivering food packets and essential supplies to people stranded in inundated areas.

A combined total of 49 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed across the state to bolster disaster response capacity. Personnel have additionally been tasked with clearing fallen trees and branches, and using cranes to remove stalled vehicles from roads to restore traffic movement.

Advisory to Citizens

Malik issued a direct appeal to residents to avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary. 'Travel should be planned only after checking the weather forecast and assessing the prevailing conditions,' he said. He made a specific appeal to senior citizens, women, and children to refrain from unnecessary travel, and urged the public to strictly adhere to safety advisories issued by police and local authorities.

What Comes Next

Emergency agencies are expected to continue relief operations as the state monitors the evolving rainfall situation. With conditions showing early signs of improvement in some pockets, the focus is shifting toward restoring normalcy in affected districts while sustaining vigilance in areas still at risk. The SEOC review is part of the state's regular monitoring mechanism, and further assessments are likely as the monsoon season progresses.