Very extreme rainfall predicted in Gujarat, these cities on alert

Gujarat is preparing for more severe weather as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the next 2-3 days. Continuous downpours over the weekend have already flooded parts of the state, leading to extensive flooding and displacing hundreds of residents.

📍gujrat

Heavy rains are being observed in some areas of Aravalli, Mahisagar, #Vadodara anad Dahod and Saurashtra in central south region of #Gujarat today 🌧🌩#gujratwether #rain pic.twitter.com/5ctd20iNen

— Weatherman Uttam (@Gujarat_weather) August 26, 2024

Incessant heavy rains have wreaked havoc across Gujarat, submerging many low-lying areas and claiming the lives of eight people, with seven others still missing in rain-related incidents.

Over the past 24 hours, the state has witnessed substantial rainfall: Baroda received 28 cm, Ahmedabad 12 cm, and Surat 4 cm. In the Saurashtra and Kutch regions, Rajkot recorded 19 cm, while Bhuj, Naliya, Okha, and Dwarka each received between 7 to 8 cm, and Porbandar got 5 cm.

Rescue operations are in full swing. So far, 1,653 people have been rescued, and 17,800 have been relocated to safer areas. Despite nearly 20 hours of search efforts by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the missing individuals remain unaccounted for.

In Sabarkantha district, local authorities and the fire brigade successfully rescued two people after their car was swept away by strong currents near Katwad village. Meanwhile, a bridge on National Highway 56 in Chhota Udepur district was damaged by the raging Bharaj river, disrupting vehicular traffic.

Very extreme rainfall predicted in Gujarat

Navsari district has been hard-hit, prompting the IMD to issue a red alert on Monday. The torrential rains have caused rivers to overflow and dams to exceed their capacity, creating dangerous conditions in South Gujarat’s Valsad and Navsari districts. In response, over 600 people from low-lying areas in Valsad have been evacuated. The rainfall, starting on Saturday, has led to disruptions, with homes submerged, roads blocked, and normal life halted.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called an emergency meeting on Sunday, gathering district collectors from the most affected areas, including Valsad, Tapi, Navsari, Surat, Narmada, and Panchmahal. He directed local administrations to relocate residents from vulnerable areas to avoid casualties swiftly. The State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF and NDRF) have been deployed to assist with ongoing rescue and relief efforts.

IMD forecasts heavy rainfall in Gujarat until September 1, with potential for isolated extremely heavy downpours in Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and other southern regions, as well as parts of Saurashtra and Kutch. The situation is critical, with the possibility of more flooding and damage.

🔹રાજ્યના 224 જેટલા તાલુકામાં આજે સવારે 6 થી બપોરે 2 વાગ્યા સુધી નોંધાયેલ વરસાદના આંકડા 🌧️#RainfallinGujarat #RainUpdate #GujaratRain #Monsoon2024 @CMOGuj @InfoGujarat pic.twitter.com/Ykm8gNzfGz

— Info Ahmedabad GoG (@ahmedabad_info) August 26, 2024

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), as of Sunday, Gujarat has received 722 mm of rainfall this monsoon season, 81.81% of the state’s average. South Gujarat has been the most affected, with 97.52% of the seasonal average. Other regions like Kutch and Saurashtra have also recorded significant rainfall, leading to waterlogging and rising water levels in rivers and dams.

Heavy rain worsens Gujarat flooding

In the past 24 hours, five talukas in Valsad, Surat, and Navsari recorded 250-330 mm of rainfall, with Khergam in Navsari receiving the highest at 262 mm. Other areas like Vadodara, Bharuch, Amreli, and Bhavnagar are expected to have heavy rainfall, worsening the flooding.

The current monsoon activity in Gujarat is attributed to a depression over northwest Madhya Pradesh, forecasted to intensify into a deep depression over south Rajasthan and adjoining north Gujarat by August 27. This system is expected to move west-southwestward and reach the northeast Arabian Sea near the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts by August 29, causing severe weather.

206 dams in the state are being monitored, 72 are on high alert, with 58 at full capacity. Authorities prepare for heavy rains and potential flooding. The situation in Gujarat is precarious, with the government and disaster response teams working to ensure resident safety.

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