Gujarat Flood Crisis: Valsad’s Umbergaon Records 1,100 mm Rainfall in 16 Hours, Thousands Evacuated

Heavy rains caused severe flooding in Gujarat’s Valsad district, where Umbergaon recorded 1,100 mm rainfall in 16 hours. Thousands of people were evacuated as rivers overflowed, low-lying areas submerged, and authorities launched rescue and relief operations following an IMD red alert.

Heavy rains have triggered a severe flood situation across several parts of Gujarat, with southern Gujarat’s Valsad district emerging as the worst-affected region. The Umbergaon area of Valsad recorded an unprecedented 1,100 mm of rainfall within just 16 hours until Thursday morning, forcing authorities to relocate thousands of residents from affected areas to safer locations.

Continuous rainfall led to widespread flooding and waterlogging in several low-lying areas, disrupting normal life. A video from Vapi in Valsad showed the severity of the situation, with several vehicles completely submerged under floodwater.

The aerial video showed a building’s parking area entirely inundated, with water levels reaching the windows of parked cars. The surrounding areas outside the parking zone were also seen submerged, highlighting the extent of flooding caused by the intense rainfall.

According to data from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Valsad district witnessed the most severe impact during the recent spell of heavy rains. Apart from Umbergaon, several other talukas in Valsad recorded more than 600 mm of rainfall during the same period.

The overflowing Auranga, Par, and Daman Ganga rivers caused extensive flooding across Valsad, affecting several residential areas and creating challenging conditions for local authorities. Officials told news agency PTI that more than 2,200 people living in low-lying areas of Surat city were shifted to safer locations following the flood situation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert, warning of very heavy rainfall in Valsad, Navsari, Dangs, Surat, and Tapi districts of south Gujarat on Thursday and Friday. Following the alert, local administrations remained on high readiness to manage rescue and relief operations.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel deployed several ministers to the affected districts to assist local administrations and oversee rescue and relief efforts, officials told PTI.

The extreme rainfall event, river overflow, and large-scale evacuations have created a critical flood situation in parts of south Gujarat, with authorities continuing emergency measures to protect residents and manage the impact of the disaster.