Gujarat is gearing up for two days of intense rainfall after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red alerts for several districts. The state government has moved swiftly, deploying 12 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 20 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to vulnerable areas.
Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi chaired an emergency review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar on Saturday. Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Jayanti Ravi and Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey, joined the discussion, which connected district collectors through video conference.
According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mehsana, and Surendranagar on Saturday, while Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, and Kutch face the highest risk on Sunday. An orange alert has also been declared in Patan, Gandhinagar, Morbi, Rajkot, and Botad.
Officials have been instructed to remain present at district headquarters around the clock, monitor dam water levels closely, and alert low-lying villages in case of emergency releases.
The situation is complicated by two major public events—the Ganesh Visarjan festivities and the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC) examination scheduled for Sunday. Joshi directed local authorities to ensure strict crowd control at immersion sites and maintain heightened security at examination centres.
“Safe immersion must be ensured by keeping people away from risky water bodies,” he said, stressing that both mass gatherings and heavy rainfall demand extra caution.
Additional NDRF support has been placed on standby in Vadodara, while coordination is underway across multiple departments including Health, Energy, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Panchayat, Irrigation, Urban Development, and Roads to handle potential emergencies.
So far, Gujarat has recorded 98% of its average seasonal rainfall. The next 48 hours will be crucial as the administration works to mitigate flood risks, safeguard citizens, and maintain order amid the forecasted downpour.
