Gandhinagar (Gujarat):

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel arrived at the Gandhinagar State Emergency Operation Center on Thursday after travelling from Vadodara, following the forecast of heavy rains and potential storms.

Upon his arrival, the Chief Minister reviewed the system’s preparedness for the natural calamity via a video conference with the District Collector.

The Chief Minister also issued immediate instructions to evacuate areas as necessary to safeguard residents from the impending calamity.

Chief Secretary Rajkumar and other senior secretaries were also present during the meeting.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated that the Chief Minister had met with the people of Vadodara, inspected the city, and held meetings with elected representatives and administrative departments, leading to important decisions.

“The Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, met with the people of Vadodara, inspected the city, and conducted meetings with elected representatives and administrative departments, where crucial decisions were made,” Mr Sanghavi said.

Furthermore, Mr Sanghavi added that the Chief Minister had approved the Vishwamitra River Revival and Redevelopment Project for Vadodara.

“The Chief Minister approved the Vishwamitra River Revival and Redevelopment Project for Vadodara, which will cost Rs 1,200 crore. A committee has been formed for the project’s execution. He also called upon 3,500 to 4,000 workers to come to Vadodara and clean the areas where the water has receded,” Mr Sanghavi stated.

Mr Sanghavi further mentioned that the Chief Minister had ensured the restoration of electricity and ordered a survey of the losses so the government could finalise a relief package.

“The Chief Minister instructed that electricity be restored and a survey of the damage conducted. The report should be submitted as soon as possible so that the government can finalise a relief package. The state government has begun work on these tasks under the Chief Minister’s directives,” Mr Sanghavi added.

Earlier today, the Indian Air Force (IAF) commenced relief operations for the flood-hit cities in Gujarat.

Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief were deployed, with transport aircraft delivering relief materials to the nearest airfields and helicopters–Chetaks and Cheetahs–positioned for operations.

MI-17 helicopters air-dropped life-saving essentials to stranded residents in Jamnagar and Vadodara.

Eighteen people have been airlifted by the IAF over the past three days, and 3,500 essential supply packs have been air-dropped.

On Thursday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited Devbhumi Dwarka district to review the relief efforts following the heavy rainfall.

Khambhaliya recorded the highest rainfall in the state over the past five days: 944 mm.

In Khambhaliya, the Chief Minister gathered first-hand information about the rainfall’s impact and guided the ongoing relief operations, supported by the NDRF, SDRF, Army, and Coast Guard.

He visited the affected areas of Ramnagar and Kanzar Checkpost, inquired about the well-being of residents, and reviewed the arrangements for those affected.

Additionally, 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.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during the inauguration ceremony of the annual ‘Rath Yatra’ of Lord Jagannath, at the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad on July 7, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The 147th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath rolled out early on July 7 morning in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city where a large number of devotees flocked the procession route to pay obeisance to the deity.

The raths (chariots) of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and his sister Subhadra are pulled by Khalashi community members as per the age-old tradition.

The Rath Yatra is taken out on the Ashadhi Beej (the second day of Hindu Ashadh month) every year.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed the ‘mangla aarti’ and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed ‘pahind vidhi‘, the ritual of cleaning the way using a golden broom, as the chariots rolled out from the 400-year-old Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area.

A senior police official earlier said more than 22,000 security personnel will guard the event and some balloon-mounted cameras will also be deployed to keep a watch on the people’s movement.

As many as 4,500 personnel have been deployed to walk with the procession along the entire 16-km route while 1,931 personnel are managing traffic during the 147th edition of the annual Rath Yatra.

As per the decades-old tradition, the procession, led by chariots, would return by 8 pm after traversing different localities in the Old City, including some communally sensitive areas.

The procession usually consists of 18 decorated elephants, 100 trucks and 30 ‘akhadas’ (local gymnasiums).

Senior police officials will keep a close watch on the procession using 1,733 body-worn cameras linked to a control room.

Besides, 20 drones and 96 surveillance cameras have been installed at 47 locations on the route.

Nearly 1,400 CCTV cameras installed by shopkeepers on the route will also be used for live surveillance, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik told reporters on Thursday.

To address any medical emergency, 16 ambulances and medical teams at five government-run hospitals have also been kept on stand-by, as per officials.

Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, in Gandhinagar, on March 11.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters met Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar on March 11 and they discussed establishment of a joint committee to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.

The two leaders also discussed potential collaboration between Gujarat and New Zealand in education and other sectors. Mr. Peters showed interest in collaboration with Gujarat in fields such as agri-business, maritime coordination, food security, dairy farming, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and tourism, stated a government release.

“Chief Minister Patel told the visiting deputy PM of New Zealand that India’s new National Education Policy, unveiled in 2020, prioritises skill development, employability, and higher education,” the release said.

“The CM suggested that companies from New Zealand can consider leveraging the expanding digital ecosystem, particularly in fintech, at GIFT City in Gandhinagar,” it said.

“In the meeting, the Chief Minister said the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit’s success under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has solidified Gujarat’s status as the best destination for investment,” the release stated.

Mr. Patel said Modi is committed to nurturing India’s relations with nations across the globe as a ‘Vishva Mitra’ (global friend).

“The Vibrant Gujarat Summit, whose 10th edition was held in January, signifies a milestone as India is determined to become the third-largest economy in the world in the next few years,” the CM said.