Gujarat heavy rains: IMD warns of more “exceptionally heavy” rainfall

A red alert was declared in Gujarat; incidents related to heavy rains also claimed 16 lives.

Across Gujarat, torrential rains have been occurring for a couple of days. In the last two days, rain-related incidents have already claimed 16 lives, and thousands have been evacuated. The entire state has been grappling with a flood-like situation as rainfall refuses to slow down. The authorities have already warned of more such downpours in the coming days.

Red alert in Gujarat.

IMD has warned of more “exceptionally heavy” rainfall. The deep depression over Saurashtra and Kachchh, currently centered 50 km north-northwest of Bhuj, is expected to intensify as it moves toward the northeast Arabian Sea, bringing even more massive downpours across the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has thus issued a “red alert” for several districts in Gujarat, including Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, Narmada, and Chhota Udaipur, among others.

“The situation is likely to persist.”

Ramashray Yadav, an IMD scientist, said that the deep depression is moving at a speed of 12 kmph and is expected to cause “extremely heavy to exceptionally heavy” rainfall in the Saurashtra and Kachchh regions. The situation is also likely to persist, with heavy rainfall warnings extending over the next four days.

Dire state of Vadodara.

The situation is particularly horrible in Vadodara, which has been submerged under several feet of water for two consecutive days, with a few areas reportedly drowned by up to 12 feet. The Vishwamitri River, which flows through Vadodara, has swelled to 37 feet above the danger level after heavy rainfall and water release from Ajwa dam. This has also prompted the state government to call in the Army to assist in relief and rescue operations.