IMD issues heavy rainfall alert in Gujarat for next 24 hours

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in Gujarat in the next 24 hours. It has been informed that the state would witness more than 20 cm of rainfall and it may continue at isolated places. 

Dr Naresh Kumar, IMD Scientist says, "At present, the monsoon is in the active phase... So under its influence, extremely heavy rainfall is already occurring over the state of Gujarat which will continue for the next 24 hours. Extremely heavy rainfall means more than 20 cm. Thereafter heavy rainfall may continue at isolated places."

Heavy Rainfall warning was also issued on 8 July in various parts of Gujarat, by the State meteorological director Jayanta Sarkar.

Sarkar told ANI, "Heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Valsad, Navsari, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli today. In Saurashtra and Kutch, we are expecting light rainfall at isolated places for the next five days whereas only light rainfall is expected at Ahmedabad."

Further, he said: "There's one cyclonic circulation over south Gujarat, persisting there for last 2-3 days, giving a lot of rainfall in south Gujarat region mainly in Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Valsad and Navsari. We are expecting fairly widespread rainfall in south Gujarat." 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and enquired about the flood-like situation occurring in various parts of the state due to recent heavy rainfall.

Shah spoke to Gujarat's Chief Minister as the state is battered by heavy monsoon rains with flood-like situations in its multiple cities.

In the Junagadh district of Gujarat, heavy rains displayed their fury with cars being washed away by rivers.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red, orange, and yellow alerts for various Gujarat districts till July 24.

Due to heavy rains in Junagadh district, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel had cancelled all his programs and called an emergency meeting on Saturday.

In Junagadh, several cattle and vehicles washed away in a heavy water flow as incessant rainfall triggered severe flooding in residential areas.

In the past few days, Gujarat experienced relentless heavy rainfall, resulting in floods in low-lying regions of Saurashtra and Kutch on Wednesday.

Furthermore, Rajkot faced severe waterlogging due to continuous and heavy rain on Thursday.

Flood waters recede in Junagadh

As flood waters receded on Sunday in the rain-battered Junagadh district of Gujarat a day after torrential rains, the focus now was on restoring normalcy, officials said, adding nearly 3,000 people have been shifted to safer places in the district. 

It also predicted heavy to very heavy rains at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall in Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Valsad districts in the next 24 hours.

Junagadh city recorded 241 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 6 am on Sunday, causing waterlogging in several parts, leaving damaged cars piled on each other and carcasses of cattle swept away in flash floods, officials said.

Two national highways, 10 state highways and 300 rural roads were closed in Gujarat on Saturday due to flooding, and the traffic resumed at places where water receded, they said.

Junagadh Collector Anil Ranavasiya said, "Water has receded from the city after the rains stopped. Around 200 people were rescued and 750 shifted from low-lying areas in the city. Another 2,220 people were shifted to safer places in rural areas adjoining the city as a proactive measure."

The effort to restore electricity was nearly completed, and food packets were being distributed to people living in shelters, he said.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire department were involved in restoring normalcy, Ranavasiya said.

"Our main focus now is towards cleanliness in the city. Junagadh city has around 600 cleaning staff, and we are getting another 400 from other districts. So, our focus for today is to clean the city so that normalcy is restored," the collector said.

Cranes were deputed to remove vehicles swept away and damaged due to flooding in some areas, and dewatering pumps were deployed to remove water accumulated in residential areas, he said.

On Sunday, parts of Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Botad, Surat and Bharuch were among the districts that received between 50-117 mm rainfall in four hours till 10 am, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.

Bhavnagar taluka of the district received 17 mm rainfall in four hours till 10 am on Sunday, it said.

Ahmedabad city recorded 125 mm rainfall in just a couple of hours on Saturday evening, inundating roads and city airport, and inconveniencing commuters and people living in low-lying areas, the SEOC said.

According to officials, the water receded in a few hours, leaving behind damaged two and four-wheelers and flooded basements in some residential areas.

IMD predicts moderate rain in 6 Maha districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted moderate spells of rain to likely occur at isolated places of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad districts during the next 3-4 hours.

IMD Mumbai said, "Nowcast warning issued at 13.00 Hrs. Moderate spells of rain very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, and Raigad during the next 3-4 hours."

Heavy rains lashed parts of Maharashtra leading to severe waterlogging in multiple areas on Saturday.

Severe water-logging also occurred in Bhiwandi following heavy rainfall which led to cars being half submerged in water.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas in Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts for Sunday.

The weather department also issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in isolated places in Mumbai for Monday.

The Indian Air Force conducted a rescue operation in Yavatmal on Saturday as several people were stranded in Anand Nagar village due to a flood.

In this regard, Yavatmal collector Amol Yedge said that a flood-like situation was witnessed in several areas of the district.

"Yavatmal has received 240 mm of rain today leading to a flood-like situation in several areas. 219 people who were stranded in various areas have been shifted with the help of State Disaster Response Force and Indian Air Force," he said.

Earlier Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his family members met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital.

The Maharashtra CM apprised PM Modi about the prevailing situation due to floods and landslides caused by incessant rainfall. 

(With inputs from PTI)