Ahmedabad/New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) Union Home Minister and Gandhinagar MP Amit Shah on Friday conducted a fresh review of the heavy rain situation in Gujarat, with a particular focus on the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar region, after speaking with the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and senior administrative officials.
The review came as authorities continued efforts to deal with widespread waterlogging and disruption caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall.
According to the party leaders, Union Minister Shah assessed the prevailing conditions in the Gandhinagar Parliamentary constituency as well as across Gujarat and instructed officials to ensure that the impact of the rain on normal public life remained to a minimum.
Officials said that weather experts attributed the situation to the simultaneous activation of three to four weather systems, with cyclonic circulation and the middle section of a shear zone centred over the Ahmedabad region.
These conditions resulted in average rainfall exceeding 18 inches in Ahmedabad, surpassing earlier forecasts.
Union Minister Shah, who had also reviewed the situation with the Chief Minister and the administration on Thursday, carried out another assessment on Friday and directed all government departments to remain on high alert.
He instructed the administration to maintain continuous monitoring of low-lying areas, launch immediate relief and rescue operations wherever required, and ensure all necessary arrangements were in place for the rapid drainage of accumulated rainwater.
Union Minister Shah also directed officials to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of essential public services, including healthcare, drinking water supply and electricity, during the ongoing spell of heavy rain.
The local administration had intensified its response following these directions.
Measures being implemented on a war footing include draining water from waterlogged locations through catch pits, drains and manholes, attending to public complaints, deploying emergency response teams and clearing fallen trees.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation was carrying out real-time monitoring through a dashboard at its main control room.
Union Minister Shah also appealed to residents of Gujarat, including those in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rainfall, follow advisories issued by local authorities and immediately contact the relevant government agencies if they encounter any emergency situation.
–IANS
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