Gujarat floods 2025: NDRF widens rescue ops in Valsad, Banaskantha, Dholka
Synopsis
While political leaders toured inundated villages in Valsad, NDRF teams were simultaneously evacuating 74 people across Dholka and redeploying to Banaskantha — a sign that the Gujarat flood crisis on 25 July was spreading faster than a single district could contain. South Gujarat's recurring monsoon vulnerability is once again under the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma visited flood-hit Valsad district on 25 July , distributing relief in Kunta and Salvav villages.
NDRF Team 6H of the 06 Battalion was redeployed from Valsad to Banaskantha district under SEOC directions.
Inspector Basant Tirkey led a team that rescued 11 people from Maflipur , Dholka .
Inspector Mahabir Mohanty 's team evacuated 63 people — including 19 children — from Betawada village , Dholka.
The Indian Army has also rescued stranded residents in Navsari ; damage assessment is ongoing as waters recede in some areas.
The Gujarat government issued an advisory urging citizens to rely only on official sources and avoid spreading unverified information.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams widened rescue and relief operations across Gujarat on 25 July as floodwaters from days of intense monsoon rainfall continued to affect Valsad, Navsari, Ahmedabad, and Banaskantha districts. Authorities have evacuated scores of residents from inundated villages while the state government urged citizens to rely only on official information during the ongoing emergency.
BJP Chief Visits Flood-Hit Valsad
Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma toured rain-ravaged areas of Valsad district on Saturday, beginning with Umargam taluka before proceeding to the villages of Kunta and Salvav in Vapi. He met affected residents, distributed essential relief materials, and reviewed ongoing rescue efforts on the ground.
Vishwakarma urged BJP office-bearers, elected representatives, and party workers to coordinate closely with government administration until normalcy is restored. He specifically directed them to ensure flood-affected families receive cooked meals, food packets, drinking water, and other critical supplies.
State Cabinet Minister Kanu Desai, BJP state general secretary Prashant Korat, Member of Parliament and state co-spokesperson Dhaval Patel, and Valsad district BJP president Hemant Kansara accompanied Vishwakarma during the visit.
NDRF Redeployment and Rescue Operations
According to the NDRF, Team 6H of the 06 Battalion was redeployed from Valsad to Banaskantha district on the directions of the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar. The team moved to the Collector's Office in Palanpur before proceeding to Deesa taluka for monsoon deployment.
In Ahmedabad district, NDRF teams conducted multiple flood-rescue operations in Dholka taluka. A team led by Inspector (GD) Basant Tirkey rescued 11 people — comprising three men, six women, and two children — from the Maflipur area shortly before 1 pm.
In a separate operation at Betawada village in Dholka, a team led by Inspector Mahabir Mohanty evacuated 63 people, including 18 men, 26 women, and 19 children, with operations continuing under district administration directives.
South Gujarat Among Worst-Hit Regions
South Gujarat has borne the brunt of the monsoon surge, with Valsad and neighbouring Navsari witnessing widespread inundation. The NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Indian Army have all been deployed in large-scale rescue and evacuation operations. Army personnel have separately rescued stranded residents in Navsari, while relief efforts continue in low-lying localities.
This comes amid a broader pattern of South Gujarat experiencing severe monsoon flooding in consecutive years, straining local infrastructure and disaster response capacity each season.
Government Advisory and Damage Assessment
The Gujarat government issued a public advisory urging residents not to pay attention to rumours, to rely exclusively on official sources of information, and to refrain from forwarding unverified messages during the emergency. Authorities are assessing damage as floodwaters begin to recede in some locations, though restoration work and humanitarian assistance remain under way across affected districts.
Point of View
Not contracting. South Gujarat's recurring monsoon crisis — Valsad and Navsari feature almost annually in flood bulletins — points to a structural drainage and early-warning gap that relief distribution alone cannot fix. The government's advisory against rumours is a routine step, but it also reflects how quickly misinformation spreads during large-scale disasters, compounding the administrative burden. The real accountability question is whether post-flood damage assessments will translate into infrastructure investment or remain statistical footnotes.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas of Gujarat are worst affected by the July 2025 floods?
South Gujarat has been among the worst-hit regions, with Valsad and Navsari districts experiencing widespread flooding after days of intense monsoon rainfall. Ahmedabad's Dholka taluka and Banaskantha district have also required active NDRF deployment.
How many people has the NDRF rescued in Gujarat on 25 July 2025?
NDRF teams rescued at least 74 people in Dholka taluka of Ahmedabad district on 25 July — 11 from Maflipur and 63 from Betawada village. Operations were continuing under district administration directives at the time of reporting.
Why was the NDRF team redeployed from Valsad to Banaskantha?
Team 6H of the NDRF 06 Battalion was redeployed from Valsad to Banaskantha district on the directions of the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar, indicating that flood-related emergencies had spread to northern Gujarat as well.
What is the Gujarat government asking citizens to do during the flood emergency?
The Gujarat government issued a public advisory urging residents not to heed rumours, to rely only on official sources of information, and to avoid forwarding unverified messages. The advisory is aimed at preventing panic and misinformation during the ongoing disaster response.
Is the Indian Army involved in Gujarat flood rescue operations?
Yes, Indian Army personnel have been deployed in Navsari to rescue stranded residents, alongside NDRF and State Disaster Response Force teams. Multi-agency operations are under way across several flood-affected districts in Gujarat.
