Power supply in most flood-hit villages of Valsad and Navsari districts in South Gujarat is targeted to be restored by Friday night, with heavily damaged areas expected to follow by Saturday, as the state government ramped up relief and restoration operations in the wake of record monsoon rainfall. The announcement came as floodwaters began receding across the two districts on 24 July.

Power Restoration on War Footing

Teams from electricity distribution companies and local administration are working round-the-clock to repair damaged poles, transformers, and power lines across affected villages. Officials described the pace of work as being conducted on a 'war footing' following the scale of destruction caused by the deluge.

In areas where electricity infrastructure sustained extensive damage, restoration is targeted to be completed by Saturday. Senior officers have been deployed directly on the ground to monitor progress.

IAS Officers Stationed in Affected Districts

IAS officer Raj Suthar is overseeing operations in Valsad district, while IAS officer Ketan Joshi is supervising efforts in Navsari. Both officers are stationed in the field, directly tracking the pace of power restoration and relief delivery.

The administration appealed to residents to cooperate with officials and remain patient as restoration work proceeds.

Deputy CM Sanghavi Visits Umargam

Later on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi visited flood-affected areas of Umargam taluka in Valsad district to assess damage on the ground. He inspected villages including Umargam, Bhilad, Satnala, and Dhodipada.

According to the state government, Umargam received 42.56 inches of rainfall in a single day during the current monsoon — described as the highest one-day rainfall ever recorded in Valsad district's history — resulting in widespread destruction across several villages.

Sanghavi directed the administration to complete damage surveys at the earliest and ensure financial assistance reaches affected residents without delay. He also instructed departments to provide timely support under government schemes to farmers, livestock rearers, and all rain-affected families.

Officials and Representatives on Ground

Sanghavi reviewed the overall situation alongside Umargam MLA Ramanlal Patkar and Pardi Sub-Divisional Officer Nirav Patel, before interacting with residents to understand the extent of flood damage firsthand.

Valsad MP and Lok Sabha Whip Dhaval Patel, District Organisation President Hemant Kansara, and other public representatives and administrative officials accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister during the visit.

What Comes Next

With floodwaters receding, the immediate priority remains restoring electricity and conducting damage surveys to unlock financial relief for affected families. The record single-day rainfall in Umargam — unprecedented in the district's history — signals the scale of recovery work that lies ahead for South Gujarat's administration in the coming days.