Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Surat remained in the grip of a severe flood crisis as rising creek water levels inundated several parts of the city, cutting off key roads and forcing large-scale rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Fire Brigade. The worst-hit areas include Parvat Patiya and Godadara, where roads have disappeared under several feet of water, leaving residents stranded and disrupting normal life.
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An India Today team conducted an exclusive ground report from a rescue boat of the fire department to assess the situation in the submerged areas.
The visuals from the flood-hit localities highlighted the scale of devastation, with rescue personnel evacuating stranded residents from waterlogged neighbourhoods while floodwaters continued to rise.
The overflowing creek has transformed major roads connecting Parvat Patiya and Godadara into rivers, making vehicular movement impossible.
As water entered residential colonies, housing societies and ground floors of apartment buildings, thousands of residents found themselves stranded indoors. The crisis has also led to shortages of essential supplies, particularly drinking water and milk.
Outside Baba Memorial Hospital in Dindoli, a vehicle carrying milk sparked a scramble among residents eager to buy the limited stock.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, highlighting the growing hardships as transport remains suspended and people struggle to access basic necessities amid widespread waterlogging.
Boats are now being used to transport rescue teams and evacuate people trapped inside homes and low-lying localities.
Fire department and NDRF personnel have been deployed across the affected areas and are carrying out continuous rescue and relief operations.
During the ground report, fire department teams were seen rescuing several local residents and families stranded amid the floodwaters.
Fear and anxiety were evident among those waiting to be evacuated. Large trucks, tempos and tractors parked along roads and outside residential societies were more than half-submerged, while smaller vehicles had disappeared beneath the water.
Critical public infrastructure has also been affected. The main BRTS bus stand in the area and a petrol pump remain completely submerged under muddy creek water.
Waterlogging has effectively cut off Godadara and Parvat Patiya from the rest of Surat, creating major challenges for both residents and emergency responders.
The flooding has entered homes and shops in several low-lying localities, raising fears of losses running into crores of rupees.
As a precautionary measure, authorities have disconnected electricity supply in the affected areas to minimise the risk of accidents, adding to the hardships faced by residents already dealing with floodwaters inside their homes.
Rescue agencies continue to patrol inundated neighbourhoods to ensure that every stranded person is brought to safety. With the India Meteorological Department forecasting further adverse weather conditions, officials expect the coming hours to remain extremely challenging for the flood-hit areas.
NDRF Inspector Parmeshwar told India Today, “We were deployed here from Vadodara early this morning—between 4.00 and 4.30 am—following orders from the Surat Collector. When we arrived, there was significant waterlogging, and we were informed that around 150 workers were stranded further ahead”.
NDRF Inspector Parmeshwar said that by the end of the operation, the teams had rescued more than 300 people, including children, women and elderly residents.
He explained that the affected location was an under-construction site where workers had been accommodated in a low-lying area that was quickly inundated as water levels rose.
As floodwaters entered their shelters, some workers climbed onto an earthen mound for safety, while others sought refuge on the rooftops of nearby houses.
Rescue teams first evacuated those stranded on walls, vehicles and raised mounds. He added that earlier during the night, around 250 people trapped near a bridge in Dindoli were also rescued and shifted to safer locations.
According to him, two NDRF teams are currently deployed in Surat and have been carrying out rescue operations at multiple locations across the city since overnight.
Fire Officer Dhaval Mohite told India Today that they have been engaged in operations since around 6 or 7 pm. They have rescued over 176 people from the area.
The individuals trapped inside the market were actually at their homes but had returned to secure their belongings; however, they became trapped as the water level rose.
They often misjudge the water level—it appears shallow, prompting them to venture forward, only to get stuck when the water rises above their height.
In some places, the road slopes downwards, causing a sudden increase in water depth where they become stranded. This situation has persisted since last night.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid venturing into flooded areas and to cooperate with rescue teams as operations continue across Surat.
With water levels remaining high and weather forecasts indicating further rainfall, emergency agencies remain on high alert to prevent any loss of life.
– Ends
Inputs by Sanjay Singh J Rathod
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
