More than 1.1 billion litres of water have been pumped out of flooded basements and buildings across Surat in the three days since floodwaters receded, according to officials from the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The amount of water removed is enough to fill nearly 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools, highlighting the massive impact of the floods that hit the city earlier this month.
Heavy Rain Triggered Widespread Flooding
On July 7, Surat received up to 14.5 inches of rainfall, causing the Mithi and Bhedwad creeks to overflow. The sudden rise in water levels flooded several parts of the city, forcing large-scale evacuations as residential and commercial areas were submerged.
Although the rain has stopped since then, the city is still dealing with the aftermath. Many housing societies, apartment complexes and markets remained waterlogged even after floodwaters began to recede.
Hundreds of Locations Needed Dewatering
According to the Surat Municipal Corporation, water had accumulated at 430 different locations across the city. These included:
192 residential societies
117 public places
102 high-rise apartment towers
19 other properties
To remove the water, the civic body deployed 254 pumps and other dewatering machines.
SMC Additional City Engineer M.D. Chavda said that more than 111.14 crore litres of water were pumped out from affected properties before cleaning work was carried out.
Cleaning Operations Continue Across East Surat
Municipal teams have been working continuously to clean roads, residential areas and public spaces in some of the worst-hit parts of East Surat. Areas including Varachha, Udhna, Limbayat, Sachin and Punagam suffered extensive flooding after the nearby creeks overflowed.
The civic body is now focused on restoring normal life by clearing mud, debris and contaminated water left behind by the floods.
Death Toll Continues to Rise
The floods also claimed several lives. Officials said that at least 34 bodies of people who had gone missing during the heavy rainfall have been recovered since the disaster.
Search and recovery efforts were carried out after the torrential rain caused severe flooding across several parts of the city.
Health Teams Step In to Prevent Disease Outbreaks
With floodwaters receding, health officials have shifted their attention towards preventing disease outbreaks.
The Surat Municipal Corporation organised 15 health camps in the affected areas over the past four days. The camps included medical officers, dermatologists, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and paramedical staff to provide treatment to residents. By Monday evening, 4,529 people had visited these camps for medical assistance.
Skin Diseases Emerge as Biggest Health Concern
Health officials reported that skin infections have become the most common medical problem among flood-affected residents. Among the people examined:
991 were diagnosed with skin diseases.
404 had fever.
400 suffered from breathing-related problems.
264 reported cough and cold.
82 were diagnosed with diarrhoea.
2,020 people sought treatment for various other health issues.
A total of 14 patients required hospital admission at SMC-run hospitals.
Prolonged Contact With Contaminated Water Blamed
SMC Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Umrigar said prolonged exposure to contaminated floodwater is likely the main reason behind the sharp increase in skin disease cases. Among all affected areas, Udhna A Zone reported the highest number of skin-related illnesses.
Within residential societies, Kamrunagar recorded the highest number of cases at 190, followed by Azadnagar with 185 cases and Sanjaynagar with 168 cases.
Recovery Still Underway
While floodwaters have now been removed from most affected locations, Surat’s recovery is far from complete. Along with restoring infrastructure, civic authorities are continuing large-scale cleaning drives and medical monitoring to reduce the risk of post-flood diseases and help residents return to normal life after one of the city’s worst flooding incidents in recent years.
Also Read: Surat ‘Ghost Demolition’: Gujarat HC Questions SMC, Police And Torrent Power https://www.vibesofindia.com/surat-ghost-demolition-gujarat-hc-questions-smc-police-torrent-power/
