Ashadhi Beej effect: Heavy rainfall expected in Saurashtra-Kutch on June 27-28

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the Saurashtra-Kutch region’s Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh and Dwarka in Gujarat on Friday and Saturday.

On the same day, an orange alert was issued for Banaskantha, Kutch, Jamnagar, and Dwarka.

“Very heavy rainfall occurred in Sabarkantha, Junagadh and Gir Somnath. And heavy rainfall occurred in Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Patan, Aravalli, Navsari, Chhotaudepur, Valsad, Daman, Porbandar, Dwarka, Amreli, Morbi and Jamnagar,” said IMD on Friday.

On the auspicious occasion of Ashadhi Beej, light showers were witnessed in some parts of Ahmedabad during the Jagannath Rathyatra on Friday.

Ashadhi Beej, also known as the Kutchi New Year, is a traditional festival celebrated in the Kutch region of Gujarat. It marks the second day of the waxing moon in the month of Ashada and signifies the arrival of the monsoon season.

Several districts in Gujarat recorded rainfall in the past 24 hours until 6 am on Friday. The highest rainfall was reported in Maliya Hatina taluka of Junagadh district, which received 157 mm (6.18 inches). Vadali in Sabarkantha also saw heavy rainfall, recording 153 mm (6.0 inches). This was followed by Talala in Gir Somnath, which received 135 mm (5.31 inches).

Mahuva in Surat district and Visavadar in Junagadh both recorded 133 mm (5.24 inches) of rainfall. Mangalore (Junagadh) received 130 mm (5.1 inches), while Khergam (Navsari) saw 119 mm (4.69 inches). Sutrapada in Gir Somnath recorded 117 mm (4.61 inches), Chikhli in Navsari received 115 mm (4.53 inches), Idar in Sabarkantha got 108 mm (4.3 inches), Khedbrahma received 104 mm (4.1 inches), and Vadgam in Banaskantha reported 102 mm (4.0 inches) of rainfall.