Surat Flood Relief – Gujarat Steps Up Aid, Health Services and Recovery Work
Surat Flood Relief – Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has said relief and recovery work in flood-hit Surat is moving at a faster pace, with financial support already delivered to more than one-fifth of affected households. He said all eligible families whose homes were flooded or damaged are expected to receive assistance by Friday evening or, if required, by Saturday morning.
Household Assistance Distribution Underway
The government is providing Rs 6,800 per household as support for essential household items and cash relief. Sanghavi said survey teams have completed most of the city-wide assessment required to identify families eligible for the assistance.
Officials are continuing to prepare and distribute relief packets across affected neighbourhoods. The Deputy Chief Minister said administrative teams remained engaged in the process even on Thursday to ensure that the remaining beneficiaries receive support within the announced timeframe.
Support for Migrant Workers
Sanghavi also instructed officials to arrange new clothes for more than 150 migrant workers who lost their belongings in the flooding. The affected workers include people from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states who were staying in Surat for employment.
He made the announcement while reviewing relief efforts and later conducted a late-night inspection of sanitation and cleanup work in areas affected by floodwaters.
State Leadership Reviews Flood Response
Earlier on Thursday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a meeting to assess the flood situation in Surat. Union Minister CR Patil was also present during the review.
According to Sanghavi, the meeting focused on completing household damage surveys, extending financial assistance and restoring normal services in affected parts of the city. Authorities are also close to finishing surveys of damaged shops and commercial establishments.
He said the assessment of commercial losses is expected to be completed by Friday evening. A policy on assistance for affected businesses will be prepared in the coming days under the Chief Minister’s guidance.
Insurance Claims to Be Closely Monitored
The state government has introduced a system aimed at helping flood-affected residents settle insurance claims without unnecessary delays. The Surat Collector will hold review meetings with insurance companies every 15 days to monitor the progress of pending claims.
An online dashboard has also been set up to allow residents to track appeals submitted to insurers. The Surat City Regional Transport Office and the lead bank have been assigned responsibility for coordinating the process and helping people receive claim-related support.
Clean Water and Public Health Remain Priorities
Sanghavi said sanitation, drinking water and healthcare are the immediate priorities for the administration as the city recovers from the flooding. Door-to-door health surveys have already started, with medical teams distributing medicines and checking on residents in affected homes.
The government plans to complete health visits to all flood-affected households within the next three days. Medical tents and health camps will also be set up at 10 locations across Surat, particularly in areas that experienced significant waterlogging.
These camps will operate from morning until night and will provide treatment to residents reporting illness or other health concerns.
Road Cleaning and Water Supply Measures
Authorities have increased the duration of water supply in flood-affected localities as restoration work continues. Municipal teams are focusing first on clearing and cleaning major roads before moving into residential societies and internal streets.
During visits to affected neighbourhoods, Sanghavi said he observed residents helping one another, including people assisting families whose homes were damaged and traders working together to clean flood-hit shops.
Meanwhile, National Disaster Response Force teams rescued and evacuated 85 people from Sriram Nagar Society in Surat on Wednesday. Those evacuated included 36 men, 27 women and 22 children.