Lagatar24 Desk
Ahmedabad: Gujarat is reeling under the impact of torrential rains that have lashed the state, leading to the death of three people and the evacuation of nearly 20,000 residents to safer locations. The heavy downpour has inundated low-lying areas and triggered an exceptionally heavy rainfall alert for several parts of the state, including the Saurashtra region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, predicting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across multiple districts until the morning of August 29. The weather office has warned of a rare and intense weather event, cautioning that it could lead to severe disruptions and pose significant risks to life and property.
Districts under high alert include Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad, Aravalli, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Dang, Tapi, Surat, Narmada, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Dwarka, Botad, and Kutch. The IMD has also issued orange and yellow alerts for most of these districts for August 30 and 31.
Strong winds, reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph and gusting up to 60 kmph, are expected to batter Gujarat’s coastline and the adjoining northeast Arabian Sea until August 28. The wind speeds are likely to intensify, reaching 55-65 kmph with gusts up to 75 kmph along the Gujarat coast and adjacent areas on August 29.
The extremely heavy rainfall in Gujarat is attributed to a deep depression over Northwest Madhya Pradesh and neighboring East Rajasthan, which has intensified further, as per the IMD’s report.
In just 12 hours starting from 6 AM on Monday, Padra taluka in Vadodara district recorded a staggering 270 mm of rainfall. Borsad taluka in Anand received 268 mm, Vadodara taluka saw 262 mm, and Nadiad taluka in Kheda district recorded 232 mm during the same period, according to data shared by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has been closely monitoring the situation and held a virtual meeting with district collectors, police superintendents, and senior civic officials to assess the ongoing crisis. The state education department has declared a holiday for primary schools across Gujarat as a precautionary measure.
In a conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Patel discussed the state’s needs and was assured of the necessary assistance, including additional support from central forces for rescue, relief, and disaster management efforts.
Alok Kumar Pandey, the state commissioner of relief, reported that in view of the IMD’s red alert, all district collectors have been instructed to cancel staff leave. He confirmed that 1,653 people have been rescued with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Coast Guard. Additionally, 17,800 individuals have been evacuated to safer locations as a precaution.
Pandey also noted that 13 NDRF teams and 22 SDRF teams have been deployed in the affected districts to assist with rescue and relief operations.
The relentless rain has caused rivers and dams to swell, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of people from low-lying areas. In Bharuch, 280 residents were moved to safer locations after nearly 4 lakh cusecs of water were released into the Narmada River from the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
Navsari in South Gujarat has been particularly hard hit, with water levels in the Purna, Kaveri, and other rivers crossing the danger mark. As a result, more than 1,500 people have been relocated, according to Navsari collector Agre Kshipra Suryakantrao.
The situation remains dire, with heavy rainfall causing significant damage and disruptions. In Ahmedabad, the city experienced continuous rainfall over the weekend, resulting in waterlogged streets, infrastructural damage, and road closures. The city recorded over 86 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, accumulating 3.50 inches of rain in a single day.
As the rain continues to batter the state, at least seven people are reported missing after a tractor-trolley they were traveling in was swept away by an overflowing causeway in Halvad taluka of Morbi district. Despite a nearly 20-hour search operation involving the NDRF and SDRF, they remain untraceable.
In Sabarkantha district, a car carrying two individuals was washed away by strong currents in a causeway near Katwad village. Fortunately, they were rescued after locals alerted the fire brigade. The heavy rainfall has also damaged part of a bridge on National Highway 56 due to the strong flow of water in the Bharaj River in Chhota Udepur district, affecting vehicle movement.
Authorities are urging residents to remain indoors and avoid venturing near water bodies as the state continues to grapple with the severe weather conditions.
