Vadodara: Like other parts of Gujarat, Anand district administration remained on high alert on Friday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over the next two days.As torrential rain battered the district, authorities evacuated residents from vulnerable areas, deployed disaster response teams and ordered the closure of all educational institutions on Saturday. Anand district collector Praveen Chaudhary monitored the situation from the disaster control room and said all precautionary measures had been put in place to ensure public safety.An SDRF team from Nadiad has been stationed at Mangalpura in Anand city with boats, rescue equipment and life-saving gear, ready for immediate deployment in case of flooding or rescue operations.The administration shifted 127 people from low-lying and flood-prone areas to safer locations. Those evacuated included seven residents from Van Talavadi in Borsad, 42 people from Dabka village who were moved to Anklav, 40 residents of Akhol village in Khambhat, 18 people from Sojitra and 20 residents from the Housing Board area in Petlad. Shelter, food and other essential facilities have been arranged for those relocated.Authorities later shifted another 61 people from flood-prone localities in Sojitra, including 24 residents housed at Shramyogi Mataji Temple and 37 people from Indira Colony in Bhadkad village accommodated in a primary school.With the red alert remaining in force, the district magistrate ordered closure of all anganwadis, primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, ITIs and colleges across Anand district on Saturday.Heavy rain also inundated several parts of Anand city. About 4.8 inches of rain was recorded within four hours on Friday morning, flooding roads and low-lying neighbourhoods. Water entered houses and shops in areas such as Lotiya Bhagol, while roads near the new bus stand and Betak Mandir were submerged, leaving several vehicles stranded and disrupting traffic. Residents alleged that Lotiya Bhagol faces waterlogging every monsoon and demanded a permanent solution.
