Extreme rainfall in Porbandar Gujarat, situation is dire

Porbandar in Gujarat, India, is facing unprecedented flooding after a record-breaking deluge submerged the historic port city. In the past 24 hours, Porbandar has seen 486mm of rainfall, marking one of the most severe weather events in the city's recent history.

The rainfall was alarming, with 200mm falling in three hours between 5:30 AM and 8:30 AM. This rate surpasses what meteorologists classify as cloudburst conditions in mountainous regions, highlighting the extreme weather.

Speaking to ANI, a priest shared the challenges posed by the floodwaters: “Even though the rain in Porbandar has ceased for the last 18 hours, some areas remain under water. The Rokadiya Hanuman temple is still a foot submerged. However, this hasn’t deterred devotees; they continue to come with coconuts and flowers for offerings, despite the temple’s flooding.”

📍Saurashtra

Junagadh, Porbandar, #Dwarka in #Saurashtra due to continuous heavy #Rains, flood-like conditions have been created #Gujratrain #gujratwether pic.twitter.com/XxYuyVRvfy

— Weatherman Uttam (@Gujarat_weather) July 19, 2024

Porbandar has rapidly deteriorated, with 565mm of rainfall in 36 hours. This deluge has caused severe waterlogging throughout the urban area, disrupting daily life. Traffic has come to a standstill in many parts of the city, with several roads, causeways, and underpasses closed due to flooding.

Ravish Kumar, DRM of Bhavnagar Railway Division, reported that the city received around 300mm of rain in a few hours, causing extensive flooding of the railway tracks. As a result, rail operations in the area have been completely halted. The Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Porbandar Superfast Express was forced to stop at Bhanvad town in the neighbouring Devbhumi Dwarka District, stranding 250 passengers temporarily.

The flooding has affected religious sites. The Rokadiya Hanuman temple remains submerged under a foot of water, even 18 hours after the rain stopped. Devotees wade through knee-deep waters to offer prayers and present coconuts and flowers.

Restoration is underway, with railway officials clearing waterlogged tracks. The volume of water has made the task challenging. The intense rainfall caught local authorities off guard, complicating response efforts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of continued heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the region. Porbandar, along with other coastal cities in the Saurashtra region such as Veraval, Somnath, Dwarka, Okha, Khambaliya, and Jamnagar, remains at high risk for intense precipitation. The IMD has highlighted July 22nd and 23rd, 2024, as dates for possibly extreme rains.