Gujarat Rains: CM Patel issues directions to Road Construction Dept to work on war footing against damage to highways

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], September 1 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has issued directions to the Road Construction Department to work on war footing against the damage to the highways following heavy rains in the state.

According to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the repair work is going on on war footing in Vadodara-Vapi, Rajkot-Jetpur, Chiloda-Himatnagar, and other roads.

“After relief-rescue operations in the state due to heavy rains, the government has been working on war footing against the damage caused to the highways and focused on making the roads passable again, the necessary directions have been given to the system for this. Chief Engineers are continuously managing these operations from Gandhinagar under the guidance of Secretaries. A review of the ongoing operations in all talukas is being done by the local collectors, in-charge ministers/secretaries with the coordination of the department,” the CM said in his post on X.

The length repair work is being carried out by the National Highways Authority of India in liaison with the state government, it said.

The teams working at the field level have been instructed to carry out the repair work on a war footing, but the matter is being continuously managed by the Chief Engineers from Gandhinagar under the guidance of the Secretaries.

“The review of the ongoing operations in all taluks is being done by the local collector, in-charge minister, and secretaries with the coordination of the department. Permanent repairs will be carried out after excavation,” the statement said.

The statement noted that a total of 466 teams with approximately 6,487 workers are employed for this purpose.

“Immediate diversions have been made to restore traffic flow where structures have collapsed. At such places, traffic has been diverted to alternative roads, and instructions have been given to install advisory boards for the same,” it stated.

Additionally, field offices have been instructed to re-verify all other structures and take necessary safety measures.

“In the section where the work is in progress, the officers, employees, and workers of the department have been instructed to wear jackets as part of safety and keep a warning board like ‘Work is in progress’ to work,” it added.

Earlier on Friday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited Devbhumi Dwarka district to review relief efforts after heavy rainfall.

A review meeting was held at the Dwarka Collector’s office with Chief Secretary Raj Kumar, where the Chief Minister received detailed updates on the damages, evacuations, and rescue operations in the district.

The Chief Minister was briefed on the damage caused by heavy rainfall in Devbhumi Dwarka district, including damage to homes, loss of livestock, and human casualties. It was reported that 8 houses and huts were damaged, 25 animal deaths, one human death, and two others were injured.

Following a request from the Gujarat government, six columns of the Indian Army are conducting rescue operations in the worst-affected areas as the flood-like situation continues in parts of the state due to incessant rainfall. The Army has been deployed to support the ongoing relief efforts.

The Gujarat government had requested six columns of Army assistance for urgent relief operations across several districts affected by severe flooding on Tuesday, according to a press release. Earlier, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued 95 people.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and assured him of all possible support and assistance from the Central government.