Heavy Rainfall Forces Postponement of Gujarat CM's 'SWAGAT' Programme

Heavy rainfall in Gujarat has led to the postponement of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's 'SWAGAT' programme, initially scheduled for August 29. The programme, designed to address public grievances online, had to be deferred due to the severe weather conditions and resultant challenges across the state.

In light of severe rainfall in Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's 'SWAGAT' programme, intended to address public grievances through an online platform on August 29, has been postponed, announced an official statement.

Public Relations Unit for the Chief Minister emphasized the schedule change. Amidst the heavy rains' devastation, State Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey urged compliance with district administration guidelines. "Approximately 1,700 citizens have been rescued during this monsoon, with a reported 99 fatalities over the past four months," he disclosed.

On Tuesday, CM Bhupendra Patel convened a meeting with district collectors and municipal commissioners at Gandhinagar's State Emergency Operation Centre to discuss the situation. Gujarat residents, especially in areas like Malpur, face ongoing challenges from relentless rain that has led to water from reservoirs being released into rivers, causing severe waterlogging.

The renowned Kashi Vishwanath Mahadev Temple in Vadodara saw unprecedented flooding, leading to its closure on Tuesday. Citizens reported the heaviest rains in 30 years. Patel also conducted a video conference to assess administrative responses to the flooding caused by the overflow of numerous rivers and reservoirs.

As per the India Meteorological Department, various regions, including Vadodara, Rajkot, and Ahmedabad, received substantial rainfall from August 26 to 27. Earlier, on July 26, in a state-level 'SWAGAT' session, the CM directed district tehsil administrators to promptly address citizen complaints.

Patel emphasized, "It's crucial to prevent prolonged unresolved issues at the district and tehsil levels, compelling citizens to escalate their grievances to the state level 'SWAGAT'."

(With inputs from agencies.)