Gujarat activated full-scale disaster response on 31 July as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings for 15 districts, prompting mass evacuations, school closures, and round-the-clock emergency operations across the state. Over 1,117 people had been evacuated by 4 pm Friday in Surat district alone, while rescue teams were deployed in Chhota Udaipur and Dang.

IMD Alert and Districts Under Watch

The IMD forecast heavy rainfall over the next two days in Ahmedabad, Anand, Aravalli, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Dang, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Narmada, Navsari, Sabarkantha, Surat, Tapi, Vadodara, and Valsad. Residents across these districts were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, stay indoors, and remain on alert.

In Gandhinagar, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Dr Jayanti Ravi visited the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) to review preparedness. After a briefing by Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana, she directed all emergency response teams to remain on 24x7 alert.

Surat: Largest Evacuations, Taluka-by-Taluka Response

Surat district recorded between three and 10 inches of rainfall across its talukas, triggering the state's most extensive precautionary evacuations. A total of 1,117 people from rural low-lying villages were moved to government primary schools, shelter homes, community halls, and relatives' residences.

The largest single-taluka evacuation occurred in Mangrol taluka, where 321 residents from villages including Vasravi, Luvara, Harangam, Vankal, Bhilwada, Khareda, Boriya, Shah, and Ambawadi were relocated. Another 276 people were evacuated from Mandvi taluka, 151 from Ambika, 99 from Olpad, 76 from Areth, 40 each from Bardoli and Choryasi, and 34 from Chikhli village in Kamrej taluka.

The district administration appointed senior Class-I officers under the Disaster Management Act to oversee relief and rescue in each rural taluka, coordinating directly with the Surat Disaster Management Centre. Talukas of Palsana and Umarpada remained under close watch for potential further evacuations.

Tapi, Dang, and Chhota Udaipur: Ground-Level Response

In Tapi district, District Collector Dev Chaudhary chaired a review meeting and ordered that evacuations from flood-prone areas be completed within six hours whenever required. The administration adopted a 'Zero Casualty' approach and declared a holiday for all schools, colleges, Anganwadis, and educational institutions on Saturday. Officials were instructed to barricade overtopped roads and bridges and install warning signs, with JCB machines, tractors, and essential resources kept on standby.

In Dang district, all 311 students of the Mahal Eklavya School in Subir taluka were evacuated after floodwater entered the school campus. Students were shifted to a nearby secondary school, with accommodation and meals arranged. The evacuation was carried out with the assistance of local administration, police, teachers, and villagers.

In Chhota Udaipur district, a team from the 6th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), led by Inspector Brijesh Vishwakarma, reached Bodeli shortly after 5 pm to rescue people reported trapped. By 5:40 pm, the team had evacuated 27 people — 12 men, 13 women, and 2 children — with operations continuing.

Road Closures and Other Precautionary Measures

In Anand district, authorities shut the Ras-Virsad Major District Road after overtopping rendered it unsafe. The closure affects villages including Virsad, Ranoli, Khanpur, Saijpur, and Ras. Traffic has been diverted via Ras, Jharola, and Chuva to Virsad, with the road expected to reopen on 3 August.

The state government also postponed its weekly statewide cleanliness programme scheduled for Sunday, 2 August, citing the likelihood of continued heavy rainfall. Emergency control rooms across all districts remain operational, resources have been pre-positioned, and monitoring of vulnerable areas is ongoing as the rain spell persists.