AHMEDABAD: Heavy rainfall continued to batter parts of Gujarat and neighbouring Maharashtra on Thursday, disrupting train services, inundating towns and villages, and triggering multiple rescue operations as rivers swelled above danger levels.Train services on the Western Railway section between Dahanu Road in Maharashtra and Valsad in Gujarat were severely affected after rivers overflowed at key railway bridges, news agency PTI reported.

According to Western Railway, services on bridge number 203 between Umargam Road and Gholvad were suspended at 4.43am after river water reached the danger mark.Operations resumed at 6.50am, but trains are currently running under a strict speed restriction of 15 kmph.Rail traffic was also suspended on bridge number 230 at Sanjan Yard from 6.45am after floodwaters crossed the danger mark.Similarly, train movement between Udvada and Vapi was halted around 7.05am after water levels rose above safe limits near bridge number 284.Western Railway said senior officials and engineering teams are monitoring the situation, adding that normal services will resume once water levels recede and safety conditions are restored.

The heavy rain also triggered widespread flooding across south Gujarat, PTI reported.In Valsad district, the Auranga river overflowed, forcing the closure of National Highway 48 after floodwaters overtopped the bridge between Dharampur and Gundlav crossroads.The Gunjan area of Vapi city remained submerged as several roads were inundated.Floodwaters also entered residential areas in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, with videos from the popular beach town of Daman showing water flowing through homes and streets.In neighbouring Navsari district, rescue operations were launched in Toran village after floodwaters entered residential areas, while in Tapi district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued 11 villagers trapped in Dhodiyawad Faliya of Dolvan taluka.Meanwhile, overnight heavy rain lashed Maharashtra’s Palghar district, inundating several towns and villages, stranding residents and prompting rescue operations.Authorities declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the district as a precaution.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for parts of the region, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places accompanied by gusty winds of 60-70kmph.Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.Officials said rescue teams remain on standby as heavy rainfall continues across the region and water levels in several rivers remain critically high.(With agency inputs)