Heavy Rainfall Triggers Flood-like Situation In Kutch, Gandhinagar Inundated; IMD Issues Red Alert | Top Updates

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted ‘heavy to very heavy’ rainfall in Gujarat districts, including Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Amreli and Bhavnagar till Tuesday morning.

Several regions of the coastal state have been inundated, displacing hundreds of residents to safer locations. Navsari in particular experienced severe flooding, leading the IMD to issue a “red alert” for the district on Monday. Parts of Narmada, Sirendranagar, Rajkot, Tapi, Mahisagarand Morbi, Dahod and Vadodara were among other districts that received over 100 mm of rainfall.

Parts of Ahmedabad and capital city Gandhinagar have also been inundated leading to waterlogged streets being closed down, flooding and infrastructural damage. In Kutch, the Nakhtrana – Lakhpat Highway was waterlogged amid heavy rainfall which triggered a flood like situation in the region.

Here are the top updates

• Several hundred people were shifted to safety in Valsad and Navsari districts as heavy rains lashed southern Gujarat district over the weekend. As per data from the State Emergency Operation Centre, Khergam taluka in Navsari district recorded the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours with 356 mm, ending at 6 am on Monday.
• A search operation by NDRF is underway in Gujarat’s Morbi district to trace seven persons swept away along with their tractor trolley while crossing a flooded causeway on a river amid heavy rains, an official said on Monday. Ten out of 17 persons on board the tractor-trolley were rescued in an overnight operation near Dhavana village.
• Several trains, including Vadodara – Jamnagar Intercity Express and Vadodara – Ahmedabad Intercity Express, were affected due to waterlogging at bajva station in Vadodara division, informed Western Railway.

• Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel has directed officials to evacuate residents from low-lying areas to safer locations. His office said that the districts most affected by the heavy rainfall include Valsad, Tapi, Navsari, Surat, Narmada, and Panchmahal in South Gujarat.
• In view of heavy rain and floods in Gujarat, union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Patel and took a briefing about the current situation and assured all possible help from the central government.

• The coast off of Gujarat is also expecting dire conditions with fishermen warned to stay put. News agency PTI reported that IMD has warned of landslides, flooding and damage to horticulture crops.
• Amid rainfall in catchment areas, the water level of Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam rose sharply and stood at 135.30 metres on Sunday, just a few metres below its full-reservoir capacity of 138.68 metres, officials said.
• With the current spell of rains, districts in South Gujarat have received more than 105 percent of their average annual rainfall so far, the highest in the state. Eight districts in South Gujarat and Saurashtra have received more than 100 percent of their average annual rainfall.

• Gujarat’s 206 reservoirs contained 3.64 lakh million cubic feet of water, representing 65 percent of their total capacity. Due to substantial increases in water levels, 72 reservoirs were put on high alert and 15 on regular alert.
• North Gujarat has so far received 64.91 per cent of average annual rainfall, while east-central Gujarat has received 68.84 per cent, the SEOC data showed.

(With inputs from agencies)