Gujarat govt steps up monsoon preparedness amid heavy rain forecast

Gandhinagar, July 21 (IANS) The Gujarat government has intensified its monsoon preparedness with round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable areas, deployment of disaster response teams and planning for critical infrastructure as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of the state over the coming days.

The measures were reviewed at a meeting of the Weather Watch Group held at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana.

The meeting assessed the preparedness of various departments to safeguard citizens and strengthen disaster management arrangements during the ongoing monsoon season.

Makwana reviewed the readiness of all concerned departments and urged them to maintain close inter-departmental coordination.

He instructed officials to immediately inform the State Control Room in the event of any emergency.

He said the State Control Room was maintaining 24-hour surveillance of all areas likely to receive heavy rainfall, including South Gujarat, using satellite imagery and advanced forecasts from the IMD.

"Based on the satellite imagery and advanced forecasts presented by the India Meteorological Department, the State Control Room is maintaining round-the-clock monitoring of all areas where heavy rainfall is likely, including South Gujarat," Makwana said.

He said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams had already been deployed to vulnerable areas with the necessary equipment to ensure rescue and relief operations could be carried out quickly in the event of an emergency.

According to the IMD, cyclonic circulation and a weather system over the Arabian Sea are expected to bring light to moderate rainfall across Gujarat over the next seven days, with heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast for some areas.

Widespread rainfall is expected, particularly in South Gujarat. On Wednesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Navsari, Valsad, Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Very heavy rainfall warnings have also been issued for isolated parts of Aravalli, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Narmada, Surat, Dang and Tapi districts on July 22 and 23.

For 24 July, the IMD has warned of heavy rainfall at isolated places in Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod and Mahisagar districts, as well as across all districts of South Gujarat.

Makwana said advance planning had also been undertaken to protect infrastructure and reservoirs.

He said the Water Resources and Irrigation Department was continuously monitoring water levels in the state's major dams.

He added that the Roads and Buildings Department had been instructed to arrange alternative routes to maintain traffic movement if roads were closed due to heavy rain.

"The Energy Department has kept emergency teams on standby to restore power supply in the shortest possible time if disruptions occur due to rainfall," Makwana said.

Officials from the NDRF, SDRF, Coast Guard, Navy, Health, Forest, Agriculture and Revenue departments, among others, attended the meeting.

--IANS

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