Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday directed District Collectors to speed up the recovery efforts in regions impacted by heavy rains and to fast-track the distribution of cash assistance and household aid to affected families.
At a press briefing at the State Emergency Operation Center, Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey reported that a total of 1,120 teams are conducting surveys across the districts of Vadodara, Surat, Anand, Rajkot, Kutch, Kheda, Jamnagar, Gandhinagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Narmada, Navsari, Morbi, Porbandar and Valsad. As of Tuesday, Rs 8.04 crores have been disbursed as cash relief to 1,69,561 citizens in these areas. Additionally, approximately 1,160 teams have assessed the damage to household belongings, including clothing, caused by the floods. So far, Rs 20.07 crores have been provided as household and clothing assistance to 50,111 affected families, he added.
The Relief Commissioner said that 48,695 individuals, including 602 pregnant women, have been relocated to 880 shelter homes across Gujarat, where they received medical examinations from health teams. Additionally, 216 successful deliveries have been carried out in hospitals within the flood-affected region, he added.
The Relief Commissioner reported that the state government has provided Rs 88 lakhs in aid to the families of 22 deceased individuals. Additionally, Rs 1.78 crores has been allocated to compensate the owners of 2,618 deceased livestock.
Surveys in the rain-affected districts have assessed damage to both temporary and permanent housing, including structures that are partially or totally destroyed. As a result, Rs 3.67 crores has been distributed as assistance to the owners of 4,673 affected huts and houses, he stated.
The Relief Commissioner reported that due to the ongoing heavy rainfall in Central and South Gujarat over the last two days, the survey operations have been delayed in several districts. Alok Kumar Pandey explained that as information about affected families and individuals is gathered, the district administration will proceed with the payments for household essentials, clothing aid, emergency cash relief, compensation for human and livestock losses, and repairs for both permanent and temporary housing.
Due to the intense downpour, 27 from the SDRF, 17 teams from the NDRF, along with 9 columns from the Army, and additional teams from the Air Force and Coast Guard, have been deployed. These teams have successfully transported 42,083 people to safer locations, airlifted 53 people to safety, and rescued 37,050 people.