Extreme weather warning as floods in India's Gujarat leave 28 dead

Rescue effort under way with areas under 3.5 metres of water and 30,000 people moved to higher ground

A man wades through a flooded street on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on Wednesday. AFP

At least 28 people have died and thousands have fled their homes after heavy rains led to severe flooding in Gujarat, with a new weather warning issued for the coastal west Indian state.

Almost 30,000 people have been moved to higher ground in the past three days as rivers burst their banks and floodwater entered houses in several low-lying areas, state health minister Rushikesh Patel said.

Some areas are under more than 3.5 metres of water, Mr Patel said, as locals reported a crocodile straying into a residential area in one of the state's biggest cities.

Gujarat, on the Arabian Sea coast, is a dry and arid region but has suffered heavy rain due to a cyclonic disturbance in the sea that has led to flooding.

The India Meteorological Department has issued an alert for extreme weather in at least a dozen districts of the state.

It has also predicted the formation of a cyclone over the Arabian Sea near Kutch and adjoining districts in Gujarat, and near Pakistan's coast on Friday.

Deaths have been reported in at least 15 districts of Gujarat. While 13 people have died from drowning, several were killed as houses and trees collapsed.

Mr Patel said he had not seen such condition in 20 years.

Several parts of India are experiencing heavy rainfall due to the monsoon season. From southern to northern regions, many of the country's rivers are overflowing.

Delhi suffered heavy rainfall on Thursday that led to severe waterlogging and traffic jams. Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, died.

The city has experienced 23 rainy days in August, the highest for the month in 14 years, according to the weather office.

In the north-eastern state of Tripura, at least 31 people have died with more than 117,000 displaced since August 19, the state government said. More than 72,000 people have been moved to nearly 500 relief camps.

Heavy rainfall, floods and waterlogging has created an estimated loss of 15 billion rupees for the state in infrastructure, properties and crops.

Fourteen people were flown to safety in a rescue operation in Gujarat's Porbandar district on Wednesday. Heavy rain and the release of water from the Bhadar Dam left villages resembling islands.

Authorities have sent seven army platoons, each with 50 soldiers, to join nearly 40 teams of rescue and relief workers.

Videos showed widespread flooding in several locations, with rescue workers evacuating stranded people.

Vadodara, the cultural capital of Gujarat, is one of the worst affected cities, where four army platoons have been sent, authorities said.

The Vishwamitri River overflowed “above 34 feet (10 metres), well above the danger mark of 25 feet (7.6 metres)” and flooded the city, Bijal Shah, the district's top official, told the media. Wildlife rescuers were called out after a crocodile was seen strolling along a road, according to reports.

“As a precautionary measure, the local administration has shifted more than 3,000 people from low-lying areas to safer places,” he said.

A portion of a small bridge collapsed and a wall of Rajkot International Airport reportedly fell due to heavy rainfall on Thursday.

The downpour has caused extensive damage to crops, local media reported.

Officials on Wednesday said the power supply to 11,000 villages in Gujarat had been affected. State chief minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed rescue and relief efforts in the affected areas.

“The priority of the state government is to provide food packets, drinking water pouches, and healthcare medicines to the people who are trapped in the flood until the water recedes,” Mr Patel said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is from the state, said the central government would provide all the support needed.