SURAT - Unrelenting rainfall for the past two days has plunged the city-district of Surat into a state of crisis, with lower-lying regions experiencing significant waterlogging. Severe flooding has been reported in the villages of Seemada, Puna Kumbharia, and Sania Hemad, forcing desperate residents to seek refuge on higher grounds.
The intensity of the rainfall escalated across Bardoli, Palsana, and Choryasi tehsils last night, causing drains to overflow and resulting in waist-deep water inside houses near the Gulf. Affected villagers, facing an overwhelming deluge, were compelled to spend the night on the roadside.
This morning, the deluge continued unabated across the Surat district, as floodwaters from overflowing drains and creeks inundated homes in Seemada, Puna Kumbharia, and Sania Hemad.
Surat city and district are currently grappling with adverse conditions due to the persistent downpour. Village areas along the Gulf side of Surat's borders, particularly Sania Hemad and Kumbharia, are submerged. Key routes such as Parvat Patiya and Godadara's BRTS road are waterlogged up to the waist, severely disrupting two-wheeler traffic and leaving BRTS buses as the only viable transportation option.
Kumbharia and Sania Hemad villages, located near a creek on Surat's outskirts, have been particularly hard-hit. Rising water levels in the drain due to the downpour have rebounded into these villages. Over 30 homes are flooded and the living conditions of approximately 250 residents have turned dire, leading them to take shelter in nearby schools and wadis.
This incident mirrors a similar situation that unfolded last year. Local residents claim that their homes are flooded annually during the monsoon due to the absence of a proper drainage system. They further lament that their pleas for administrative attention and action have gone unheeded. Even in Sania Hemad, roads remain submerged.
The relentless rainfall, lasting over 36 hours, has notably increased water levels in creeks and led to a flood-like situation in villages along the border creeks, including Sania Hemad, further amplifying the residents' distress.
