A State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team on Sunday rescued nine people who were stranded in the swollen Sabarmati River near Danta in Banaskantha district following heavy rainfall across Gujarat.
PSI MP Rawal of SDRF said the rescue operation began on Saturday evening after a message was received about nine people stranded in Dhakad village. “We reached the site around 8 pm but couldn’t complete the rescue due to the heavy flow of the river. A helicopter was also called in for support. This morning, the operation was successful, and all eight men and one woman were safely rescued,” he told ANI.
Danta SDM Harini KP said the group, who were out grazing cattle, got stuck as the water level rose unexpectedly. “Our team stayed at the site for hours due to the strong current. On the second attempt, we managed to bring them out safely. All rescued individuals are in good health,” the official confirmed.
Meanwhile, Gujarat has recorded 102.89% of its average seasonal rainfall, with the southern region receiving the highest at 107.99%, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was reported across 139 talukas, with Kaprada receiving 10 inches, and Poshina and Dharampur 6 inches each.
Elsewhere in North India, heavy rains continue to trigger flooding. In Punjab, several villages remain submerged, with officials reporting at least 46 deaths.