Gujarat: 19 stranded after tractor overturns in floodwaters in Morbi, 10 rescued

A tragic incident unfolded in Morbi district as heavy rains led to the overturning of a tractor carrying 19 passengers. The accident occurred on Sunday night in Dhwana village when the tractor attempted to cross a causeway overwhelmed by the forceful waters. The powerful current swept away the vehicle, stranding the passengers.

Upon receiving the emergency alert, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was swiftly dispatched to the scene. KB Jhaveri, the Collector of Morbi, provided an update on the situation: “Due to heavy rains today, a lot of water was flowing from the causeway. A tractor was passing through that causeway, and the attached trolley overturned due to the force of water. Around 17 people travelling are stranded... We called our State Disaster Relief Force... Till now, we have saved the lives of 10 people. We are trying our best to save the rest of the people.”

#WATCH | Gujarat: Collector, Morbi KB Jhaveri says, "Due to heavy rains today, a lot of water was flowing from the causeway. A tractor was passing through that causeway and the attached trolley overturned due to the force of water. Around 17 people travelling are stranded...We… https://t.co/n9p0vhosGa pic.twitter.com/YZwxCYXaff

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2024

The SDRF team, joined by a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit from Rajkot, managed to rescue ten individuals from the turbulent waters. However, the search continues for the remaining nine passengers who are still unaccounted for.

According to an official statement, the NDRF team received information about the incident late on August 25. The team promptly mobilized from their halted position in Rajkot and reached the disaster site at 3:44 AM. The rescue efforts commenced shortly after, at 4:15 AM, as they battled against time and challenging conditions to save as many lives as possible.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with all resources being deployed to locate and secure the remaining victims.