New Delhi, Aug 28 — Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, voiced deep concern over the escalating flood situation in Gujarat and called on the government to intensify relief measures to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
The floods have claimed nine additional lives in Gujarat, bringing the total death toll to 16 over the past two days. Additionally, about 8,500 people have been relocated and rescued from affected areas as heavy rains continued for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, according to officials.
In a post on X, Kharge expressed his grave concern, stating, “The flood situation in Gujarat is extremely worrying, with numerous lives lost and people missing. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families who have lost loved ones. Our thoughts are with those affected, who urgently need food and medical assistance.”
Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, urged the Central government to deploy additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams. He praised the efforts of the Armed Forces and Coast Guard in the rescue operations and called on Congress leaders and workers to coordinate all possible relief efforts during this time of crisis.
Rahul Gandhi echoed these sentiments, highlighting the worsening flood conditions. He conveyed his deepest condolences to the families affected and expressed hope for the swift recovery of the injured. Gandhi appealed to Congress workers to assist in the relief and rescue efforts and urged the government to take comprehensive measures to reduce the impact of the calamity.
The government is actively engaged in relief operations, involving the NDRF, SDRF, Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to review the situation and ensure continued support from the Centre.
The latest reports indicate that nine people died in rain-related incidents, such as wall collapses and drownings, on Tuesday. On Monday, seven people had died under similar circumstances. A total of 169 individuals were rescued on Tuesday, primarily from Kheda and Morbi districts, while 8,460 people were evacuated to safer locations, including around 3,000 from Navsari and approximately 1,000 each from Vadodara and Kheda. In total, over 15,000 people have been evacuated in the past two days.
