Surat: Heavy rainfall leaves 800 students stranded in school, rescued by fire brigade
Surat: Heavy rainfall in Surat on Wednesday evening left over 800 students stranded in a school, forcing the fire brigade to rescue them. The students of Simga School in Sagarampura were trapped in the school premises due to flooding caused by the heavy downpour.
According to eyewitnesses, the school's playground was inundated with three to four feet of water, making it difficult for the students to exit the premises. The fire brigade was called in to rescue the students, who were safely evacuated and handed over to their parents.
The heavy rainfall, which lasted for over an hour, caused widespread flooding in various parts of the city, including Sagarampura, Navsari Bazaar, Majura Gate, Ring Road, and Chawk Bazaar. The streets were inundated with two to three feet of water, causing inconvenience to commuters.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted heavy rainfall in South Gujarat, including Surat, for the next 72 hours. The department has warned of heavy rainfall in the region, which may lead to flooding in low-lying areas.
The heavy rainfall has also affected the preparations for the upcoming Navratri festival, which is a major event in the city. The organizers of the festival are worried about the impact of the rainfall on their preparations.
Meanwhile, the administration has been put on high alert to deal with the situation. The water level in the Ukai dam has risen to 342.47 feet, which is close to the danger mark of 345 feet. The administration is monitoring the situation closely to ensure that the water level does not rise further.
The heavy rainfall has brought some respite to the farmers in the region, who were facing a drought-like situation due to the lack of rainfall in the past few days.
In another incident, the New Civil Hospital in Surat was also affected by heavy rainfall, with water entering the old building, laboratory, and OPD areas. Patients had to face difficulties due to the flooding.
The fire brigade and administration are working together to deal with the situation and ensure that the city returns to normalcy as soon as possible.
Rainfall Data (in mm)
* Central: 72
* Randera: 20
* Katargam: 32
* Varachha-A: 04
* Varachha-B: 02
* Udhna: 03
* Athwalines: 23
* Limbayat: 41
