Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy rainfall in Gujarat over the next 24 hours, with predictions of more than 20 cm of rainfall in the state, particularly at isolated places.
In Junagadh district, heavy rains wreaked havoc, causing cars to be washed away by rivers. The IMD has issued red, orange, and yellow alerts for various districts in Gujarat until July 24. The heavy water flow resulted in the loss of several cattle and vehicles in the district.
Gujarat has experienced relentless heavy rainfall in the past few days, leading to flooding in low-lying regions of Saurashtra and Kutch. Rajkot also faced severe water logging due to continuous and heavy rain. Dr. Naresh Kumar, an IMD Scientist, stated that the monsoon is currently in its active phase, leading to extremely heavy rainfall in Gujarat, which is expected to persist for the next day. After the initial downpour, heavy rainfall may continue at isolated locations, reported ANI.
Earlier, on July 8, the State meteorological director, Jayanta Sarkar, had also issued a heavy rainfall warning for various parts of Gujarat. The regions of Valsad, Navsari, Daman, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli were among those alerted. Additionally, light rainfall was expected in Saurashtra and Kutch over the next five days, while Ahmedabad was predicted to receive only light showers.
The cause behind the heavy rainfall is attributed to a cyclonic circulation over south Gujarat, which has persisted for the past few days, resulting in substantial rainfall in regions such as Daman, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Valsad, and Navsari. The IMD expects fairly widespread rainfall in south Gujarat.
The situation has become a matter of concern for authorities, prompting Union Home Minister Amit Shah to get in touch with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to enquire about the flood-like situations occurring in various parts of the state due to the recent heavy rainfall. The state has been grappling with severe monsoon rains, leading to flood-like conditions in multiple cities.
Due to the incessant rainfall, CM Bhupendra Patel canceled all his scheduled programs and convened an emergency meeting to address the situation in Junagadh. With the ongoing heavy rainfall and flood concerns, the state remains on high alert, with authorities working to mitigate the impact of the monsoon.