Surat: Intense rain-battering and floods claimed seven lives in Valsad district, even as the administration stepped up relief, sanitation and restoration work.Valsad collector Nitin Sangwan said the district administration deployed 70 teams to survey damage to homes and other properties. Dewatering operations continue in pockets where water remains trapped.Officials said 12,376 people were shifted to safer places on Thursday after water levels rose rapidly in low-lying and riverside areas. With the flood situation improving, most evacuees began returning to their homes on Friday. In the latest casualty, the body of a man from Bhagdakhurd village near Valsad city, who went missing during the flooding, was recovered after water receded. The village is located on the banks of the Auranga River.Several low-lying areas of Valsad city, including Kashmir Nagar, Barudiyawad and Chipwad, were submerged after the Auranga River overflowed. Floodwaters also entered Bhagdakhurd, Bhagdawada, Lilapore and several other villages, disrupting normal life and damaging household belongings.As the water receded, thick layers of sludge and debris were left behind across roads, residential areas and commercial establishments. In several localities, water levels rose to nearly seven feet inside houses, shops and grain and edible oil warehouses, damaging large quantities of stored stock.With stagnant water posing the risk of disease outbreaks, the health department has launched door-to-door chlorination of drinking water sources, while the Valsad municipality has intensified sanitation drives across the affected areas.Power supply remained disrupted in several localities after waterlogging damaged transformers and brought down electricity poles. DGVCL teams, in coordination with the district administration, began restoration work.Traffic on National Highway 48 resumed on Friday but continued to move slowly because of road damage and congestion. Vehicular movement came to a complete halt on Thursday after multiple stretches of the highway were submerged. Roads and bridges in Kaprada and Dharampur talukas also sustained damage at several locations.“Assessment of flood-related property damage is our priority, and payment of cash doles will begin soon. Electricity supply and mobile connectivity in the affected areas will be restored by Saturday evening,” said Sangwan.
