Over the past three days, at least 28 lives have been lost due to the severe monsoon rains and flooding that have struck Gujarat, a state in western India. The relentless rains have caused rivers to overflow, leading to widespread devastation. Unfortunately, the loss of life has been significant, with some victims drowning, while others were tragically struck by falling trees or collapsing structures.
As the situation continues to worsen, the weather department has issued a warning that more heavy rain is expected in the coming days. This has heightened concerns, as thousands of people have already been forced to evacuate their homes in search of safety. In fact, more than 30,000 individuals have been displaced due to the rising floodwaters.
Efforts to rescue those affected have been ongoing, with disaster and army officials working tirelessly to reach those in need. To date, 1,856 people have been rescued and brought to safety.
On Wednesday evening, the state government provided an update, confirming that 13 individuals had lost their lives due to drowning, while others had died as a result of collapsing houses or falling trees. Meanwhile, reports from the Indian Express indicate that the death toll across the state has reached 35.
As the heavy rains show no signs of abating, the people of Gujarat remain on high alert, hoping for relief from the relentless downpour.
Vadodara Hit Hard by Floods: Power Outages and Rescues Show Growing Climate Problems
According to a press release, Vadodara has been identified as one of the cities most severely impacted by the recent floods. The situation has been made even more challenging due to the widespread power outages, leaving approximately 1,000 villages without electricity.
Efforts to rescue those trapped by the rising waters have been captured in images and videos shared by disaster officials. These visuals show rescuers using inflatable boats and even tyres to reach people stranded in the floodwaters.
While annual monsoon rains frequently lead to significant damage, experts have pointed out that climate change is playing a role in altering weather patterns. This shift is believed to be responsible for the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.
Just last week, the northeastern state of Tripura in India experienced devastating floods and landslides, resulting in the deaths of over 20 individuals. Meanwhile, in neighboring Bangladesh, which lies downstream from India, the situation has been equally dire. Floods have claimed the lives of at least 40 people there, forcing nearly 300,000 residents to seek safety in emergency shelters.
