Gujarat Police on high alert as DGP reviews flood response

Gandhinagar, July 24 (IANS) Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik on Friday said that the state's police and civil administration were continuing to work in coordination to support flood relief and rescue operations as parts of Gujarat remained affected by extremely heavy rainfall, with authorities maintaining a high level of preparedness despite conditions beginning to improve in some districts.

Malik reviewed the rainfall situation and ongoing rescue efforts at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar, focusing on the flood-affected districts of south Gujarat, including Valsad, Surat and Navsari, as well as the situation in Ahmedabad and other districts that have experienced heavy rain.

Earlier in the day, at 9 a.m., the DGP also held a video conference with all Police Commissioners, Range Inspectors General and District Superintendents of Police to assess the prevailing situation and direct officers to remain on the ground and continue operations with full alertness.

Speaking after the review meeting, Malik said the Gujarat Police and the state administration were functioning as a unified team to protect the public.

"The safety of citizens is our top priority. The Gujarat Police and the administrative machinery are working as one team to carry out the best possible relief and rescue operations across the state," he said.

Malik said the situation in Valsad, Surat, Navsari and other parts of south Gujarat was gradually improving after the spell of extremely heavy rainfall, but stressed that police and administrative authorities would remain on alert and continue to monitor developments closely.

"Gujarat Police personnel, local administrative authorities and disaster management teams were coordinating rescue and relief work on the ground, with priority being given to evacuating senior citizens, women and children to safer locations. Police teams were also helping deliver food packets and other essential supplies to people stranded in affected areas," he emphasised.

The DGP noted that disaster response capacity had been strengthened with the deployment of 49 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) across the state.

Police personnel were also assisting in clearing fallen trees and branches caused by the rains and restoring traffic movement by using cranes to remove stranded and stalled vehicles from roads.

Appealing to residents to exercise caution, Malik urged people to avoid leaving their homes unless absolutely necessary.

"Citizens should avoid stepping out unless it is absolutely essential. Travel should be planned only after checking the weather forecast and assessing the prevailing conditions," he said.

He made a special appeal to senior citizens, women and children to avoid unnecessary travel and asked the public to strictly follow safety advisories issued by the police and local authorities.

The review meeting at the SEOC was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Dr Jayanti Ravi, DGP (Law and Order) Rajkumar Pandian, Inspector General of Police Makarand Chauhan, Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana and other senior officials.

The meeting formed part of the state's ongoing monitoring of the evolving rain and flood situation as emergency agencies continued relief operations across affected districts.

--IANS

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