Surat: As flood-hit Navsari begins a slow recovery, water levels in the Purna, Ambika and Kaveri rivers have receded, bringing much-needed relief to thousands affected by one of the district’s worst flooding episodes. Rescue teams continued operations on Friday even as authorities shifted focus towards rehabilitation and damage assessment.Floodwaters continued to inundate several parts of Navsari city and villages across the district, though the situation improved after rain in the rivers’ catchment areas eased. An Indian Coast Guard helicopter rescued 60 people stranded at shrimp farms in Mendhar village of Gandevi taluka. Teams from the Army, NDRF, SDRF and fire brigade continued rescue operations across affected areas.Navsari collector Manish Gurwani told TOI: “We tried to rescue people stranded at shrimp farms in Mendhar with the help of NDRF. However, it was not possible to reach them. We then enlisted a Coast Guard helicopter and rescued 60 people. With the water starting to recede in the three rivers, we have launched relief work.“We have formed 100 teams for a survey of damage to homes and establishments. We will soon pay cash doles. Our priority is to clear the mud and garbage from the city and various villages. We have started cleaning work with 150 health teams. At present, one Army column, along with NDRF and SDRF teams, is carrying out rescue work.”According to Gurwani, unprecedented rainfall in the catchment areas of the Purna, Kaveri and Ambika rivers, coupled with heavy rain in Navsari district, triggered the flooding.After the floods, district authorities shifted around 14,000 people to safer locations. The roads and buildings department has reopened all 26 state highways that were closed on Thursday due to flooding. However, 175 panchayat roads remain closed because of overtopping, damage and waterlogging.The Ambika river bridge on the Eru-Hansapore-Amalsad-Bilimora road, which had been blocked by accumulated garbage, was cleared with earth movers.Rescues continued at several locations. Eight people were rescued from the Shruti Solar Plant in Tavdi village of Jalalpore taluka, while around 250 shrimp farm workers were rescued from Machhad village.Deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi visited flood-affected areas of Navsari late on Thursday night and met evacuees sheltered at Tata High School. Navsari’s in-charge secretary Ardra Agrawal and health minister Praful Pansheriya also visited the district on Friday to review the situation. Pansheriya also inspected the civil hospital’s preparedness to handle any emergency arising from the floods.
