Surat witnessed a severe test of its pre-monsoon readiness on Monday morning as intense rainfall flooded the city in just a couple of hours. With nearly 6.5 inches of rain recorded within two hours, several low-lying areas of the city, including coastal neighborhoods such as Umarwada and Jawahar Nagar, were submerged. In some homes, water levels rose to chest height, prompting emergency evacuations of elderly residents, women, and children to safer locations.
As per report, the deluge highlighted the shortcomings in the Surat Municipal Corporation’s much-publicized monsoon preparedness. Despite official claims regarding thorough dredging of creek beds and cleaning of drains, the ground reality suggested otherwise. The worst impact was felt by the city’s working-class population and ordinary citizens, who bore the brunt of the flooding.
In response to the unfolding situation, Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal visited the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) located at Bread Liner Circle on Udhna-Magdalla Road. From there, she monitored the affected areas through CCTV surveillance and instructed all concerned departments to remain on high alert and expedite relief efforts.
Municipal teams have been deployed and are working through the control room to coordinate drainage operations and provide assistance to affected residents. Special efforts are being made in the worst-hit low-lying areas to restore normalcy and prevent further inconvenience.
This first major rainfall of the season has not only raised questions about the administration’s monsoon planning but has also intensified the hardships of the public. The coming hours will be critical in determining how effectively the civic body manages to bring the situation under control and prevent a recurrence of such flooding in the days ahead.
