Several cities in Gujarat are reeling under heavy rainfall, resulting in a flood-like situation across the state. Vadodara, in particular, has been severely impacted, with flooding in numerous low-lying areas after the Vishwamitri River breached its banks and inundated residential neighborhoods.
Indian left-arm spinner Radha Yadav shared a video on her Instagram story on Wednesday, revealing that she was trapped in a “very bad situation” due to the floods in Vadodara. The video showed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials rescuing people by boat as buildings, roads, and vehicles remained submerged. “We are stuck in a very bad situation. Thank you so much #NDRF for rescuing us,” Radha wrote.
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan also took to social media platform X, advising Baroda residents to stay indoors due to the widespread flooding. “Stay safe, Baroda. Flooding is widespread, so please stay indoors for your own safety,” Pathan urged.
The Saurashtra region, including districts like Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Porbandar, received between 50mm and 200mm of rainfall within a 12-hour period on Wednesday. Bhanvad taluka in Devbhumi Dwarka recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 185mm during this period. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted extremely heavy rains in isolated areas of Saurashtra on Thursday.
Rescue operations are in full swing in flood-affected areas, with teams from the NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and three Army columns actively relocating people to safer locations. The Indian Air Force and the Coast Guard are also involved in rescue and relief efforts. Officials reported that around 17,800 people have been relocated, and another 2,000 have been rescued so far.
The flood crisis in Gujarat has claimed 26 lives in rain-related incidents over the past three days, with fatalities reported in Rajkot, Anand, Mahisagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Morbi, Junagadh, and Bharuch districts. On Tuesday alone, at least nine people lost their lives due to incidents like wall collapses and drowning across different parts of the state.
As rescue operations continue and rains persist, authorities urge residents in affected areas to remain indoors and prioritize their safety.
