Heavy rain batters South Gujarat: 47 roads shut, dams overflow in Navsari
Synopsis
South Gujarat is bearing the full brunt of the monsoon surge: 47 roads blocked in Dang, two dams overflowing in Navsari with dozens of villages on alert, 11 people rescued in Tapi, and schools shuttered in Surat — all on a single day. With the IMD's red alert still live and more rain forecast, the region's infrastructure and emergency systems face their sharpest test of the season.
Key Takeaways
47 roads in Dang district were closed to traffic on 23 July due to heavy rainfall and adverse conditions.
The Juj and Keliya dams in Navsari district began overflowing, with dozens of villages across Vansda, Chikhli and Gandevi talukas placed on alert.
11 people were rescued from flooding in Dhodiyawad Faliya , Dolvan taluka , Tapi district .
All schools and Anganwadi centres in Surat district — municipal, corporation and rural — were closed on 23 July for student safety.
The IMD issued a red alert for Panchmahal , Dahod and Mahisagar , with extremely heavy falls forecast across south and central Gujarat in the next 24 hours .
Valsad also reported flooding, evacuations and road closures, with relief operations ongoing.
Heavy and relentless rainfall continued to batter South Gujarat on Thursday, 23 July, forcing the closure of 47 roads in Dang district, triggering dam overflows in Navsari, prompting rescue operations in Tapi district, and compelling authorities to shut all schools in Surat district as forecasts warned of further intense spells over the next 24 hours.
Roads Closed, Motorists Warned in Dang
According to the Dang district administration, 47 roads under the Panchayat Roads and Buildings Department were closed to vehicular traffic owing to heavy rainfall and deteriorating weather conditions. Motorists were urged to exercise caution and follow official advisories before venturing out.
Two Dams Overflowing in Navsari
In neighbouring Navsari district, authorities warned that the Juj and Keliya dams had begun overflowing following continuous rainfall across the district and upstream catchment areas. Officials cautioned that rising discharge levels could elevate water in downstream villages and along the Purna River, urging residents on riverbanks and in low-lying areas to remain on high alert.
The villages identified as vulnerable to overflow from Juj Dam span three talukas — Vansda (including Juj, Khadkiya, Navanagar, Vasiya Talav, Ranifaliya, Nani Valzar, Moti Valzar, Singada, Rupvel, Chapaldhara, Rajpur and Pratapnagar), Chikhli (Donja, Harangam, Chikhli, Khundh, Vankal and Ghekti), and Gandevi (Undach Vaniya Faliya, Undach Luhar Faliya, Goydi-Bhathla, Khaparwad and Desra).
Villages at risk from Keliya Dam overflow include Keliya in Vansda taluka; Kakadvel, Mandvakhadak, Velanpur, Godthal, Kanbhai, Syada, Mogarwadi, Amdhara, Ghej, Maliyadhar, Soldhara, Piplagan, Dholar, Kaliyari and Balwad in Chikhli taluka; Vad in Khergam taluka; and Goyadi Bhathla, Vagharech, Khaparwada and Desra in Gandevi taluka. The Navsari administration appealed to residents to avoid rivers and waterlogged zones, heed changing conditions, and comply immediately with any evacuation orders. Officials also cautioned against rumours, directing citizens to rely solely on information from official channels.
Rescue Operations in Tapi District
In Tapi district, rescue teams responded to flooding in Dhodiyawad Faliya in Dolvan taluka, where 11 people were evacuated to safety, according to district authorities. The operation underscores the scale of disruption that the monsoon surge has caused across the southern belt of the state.
Schools Shut in Surat
The continuing downpour forced the closure of all educational institutions in Surat district on 23 July. Acting on district-level instructions, the District Education Officer directed that all primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools — along with Anganwadi centres — in municipal, municipal corporation, and rural areas would remain shut in the interest of student safety.
IMD Red Alert, More Rain Ahead
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy falls, across parts of south and central Gujarat over the next 24 hours, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. A red alert has been issued for parts of central Gujarat, including Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar districts. Heavy rainfall is also expected to persist across several south Gujarat districts in the coming days.
The disruption extends beyond the districts directly in focus — Valsad has also reported flooding, evacuations, and road closures, with authorities continuing rescue and relief operations there. With the IMD warning of sustained intensity, the coming 48 hours will be critical for communities along vulnerable river corridors.
Point of View
Closure of 47 roads, and a school shutdown across Surat on a single day reveal how thin the margin between a heavy monsoon and a full-scale crisis has become in South Gujarat. The village-level specificity in Navsari's warnings is commendable — but the sheer number of settlements at risk from just two dams points to a long-standing gap in flood-plain regulation and pre-monsoon desilting. With the IMD red alert still active and Valsad already under pressure, the next 48 hours will test whether Gujarat's disaster response infrastructure, stretched across multiple districts simultaneously, can keep pace with the rainfall's intensity.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are schools closed in Surat on 23 July 2025?
All primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools, along with Anganwadi centres, in Surat district were closed on 23 July due to heavy rainfall and concerns for student safety. The closure was directed by the District Education Officer acting on district-level instructions.
Which dams are overflowing in Navsari and which villages are at risk?
The Juj and Keliya dams in Navsari district began overflowing following continuous rainfall in the district and upstream catchment areas. Dozens of villages across Vansda, Chikhli, Gandevi, and Khergam talukas have been identified as vulnerable to rising water levels along the Purna River.
How many people were rescued in Tapi district?
Rescue teams evacuated 11 people from Dhodiyawad Faliya in Dolvan taluka, Tapi district, according to district authorities. The operation was in response to localised flooding caused by the ongoing heavy rainfall.
What is the IMD forecast for South Gujarat in the next 24 hours?
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy spells across south and central Gujarat over the next 24 hours, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. A red alert has been issued for Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar in central Gujarat.
Which other districts in Gujarat are affected by the heavy rain?
Beyond Dang, Navsari, Tapi, and Surat, the district of Valsad has also reported flooding, evacuations, and road closures, with rescue and relief operations continuing there. The IMD expects heavy rainfall to persist across several south Gujarat districts over the coming days.
