Surat: The rain may have eased on Tuesday, but for many Surat residents, the nightmare was far from over. Vast stretches of the city — from residential societies and shops to commercial complexes and arterial roads — remained under water. Heavy rainfall continued to lash South Gujarat for the second consecutive day, flooding urban and industrial zones and bringing normal life to a standstill. In several parts of Surat, stagnant floodwaters refused to recede, leaving people stranded and homes waterlogged.Surat recorded a staggering 13.6 inches (346 mm) of rain in the 24 hours till 6 am Tuesday, followed by an additional 2.6 inches (66 mm) between 6 am and 10 am. Though rainfall eased by afternoon, several neighbourhoods remained inundated well into the evening.Low-lying areas such as Simada, Sarthana, Puna, Parvat, Godadara and Dumbhal bore the brunt of flooding yet again — an annual ordeal for residents. Water entered homes, shops, offices, and warehouses, disrupting daily life. Many residents could not leave their homes and emergency services were called in to assist those in distress.In the Pal area, residential societies faced severe waterlogging. Bhatar’s Azad Nagar and Vesu’s VIP Road were also heavily flooded. The city’s bus services were severely affected, with several routes suspended.A 18-year-old boy was swept away in a rivulet. Fire department teams launched a search operation, but he remained untraced at the time of reporting.Kamrej residents reported rising anxiety as waterlogging persisted for over 24 hours without relief. City civic teams and fire personnel were deployed for rescue and relief work, including the dewatering of basements in both residential and commercial complexes — a task described as a growing challenge due to continuous seepage.The flooding spilled beyond Surat. Waterlogging on National Highway 48 in Valsad caused a massive traffic jam, with vehicles lined up for several kilometres. The situation eased by afternoon as the water began to recede.In the industrial town of Vapi, heavy rains flooded several localities. The city recorded six inches (154 mm) of rain in 10 hours from 6 am Tuesday. Valsad’s Dharampur recorded 5.67 inches (144 mm), while Pardi received 5.12 inches (130 mm) in 12 hours.In Bardoli, too, 4.88 inches (124 mm) of rain led to significant waterlogging. Vyara in Tapi district recorded a similar rainfall level. Several roads across Tapi and Surat districts remained closed as floodwaters overtopped major routes, cutting off access in several pockets.
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