Gujarat rain check: Morbi receives highest rainfall, seven feared dead in state
Updated: Aug 27th, 2024
In the past 24 hours, Tankara taluka in Gujarat’s Morbi received the highest rainfall of 14 inches, while Morva Hadaf in Panchmahal and Nadiad taluka in Kheda received more than 13 inches.
In Anand, the highest rainfall recorded was 10 inches. Panchmahal district saw over 9 inches, while Kheda and Morbi districts recorded about 8 inches.
Moreover, from 6 am to 10 am today, Lodhika taluka in Rajkot recorded the highest rainfall of 5 inches.
At least eight people are feared dead in the havoc inflicted upon the state, while around 6,000 people have been reportedly relocated by the authorities.
The deaths have been reported in areas which include Anand, Kheda, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara. While one person is reported to have drowned in the floodwaters, others were crushed under objects collapsed due to heavy rains.
Rainfall over 9 inches
According to reports from the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar, in the past 24 hours, places like Borsad, Khambhat, Tarapur, and Anand talukas in Anand, Padra and Vadodara talukas in Vadodara district, Godhra in Panchmahal, and Wankaner taluka in Morbi have recorded about 12 inches of rainfall.
Other areas such as Sojitra and Petlad in Anand, Mandvi and Nakhatrana in Kutch, Vaso in Kheda, Balasinor in Mahisagar, and Khambhalia taluka in Devbhoomi Dwarka, along with Morbi and Rajkot talukas, received more than 9 inches.
Furthermore, areas including Galteshwar, Mahudha, and Mehmedabad talukas in Kheda, Kalavad in Jamnagar, Shehra in Panchmahal, Santrampur in Mahisagar, Meghraj in Aravalli, and Dholka taluka in Ahmedabad received 8 inches of rainfall, showing widespread rainfall.
Rainfall over 7 inches
In addition, 11 talukas in the state received more than 7 inches of rain, another 11 talukas received more than 6 inches, 16 talukas received more than 5 inches, 25 talukas received more than 4 inches, 40 talukas received more than 3 inches, 37 talukas received more than 2 inches, and 35 talukas received more than 1 inch of rainfall. Overall, in the past 24 hours, the average rainfall across 251 talukas in the state was more than 3 inches.
Notably, as of today, Aug 27, 2024, by 6 am, the total average monsoon rainfall in the state was 99.66%. This year, the Kutch zone has received the highest rainfall at over 116%, followed by south Gujarat at over 108% and Saurashtra zone at over 101%. Eastern-central Gujarat has received more than 98%, and north Gujarat has seen about 80% of the total average monsoon rainfall.
Water bodies on high alert
A total of 76 reservoirs are now completely full, reaching 100% capacity. Additionally, 46 reservoirs are filled between 70% and 100%, and a high alert has been issued for them. Furthermore, 23 dams are filled between 50% and 70%, while 30 dams are between 25% and 50%, and 31 dams are less than 25% full.
In the state’s lifeline, the Sardar Sarovar Project, the current water storage stands at 290,547 Million Cubic Feet (MCFT), which is 87% of its total storage capacity.
Other 206 reservoirs in the state have a total storage of 407,440 MCFT, amounting to 72.73% of their total capacity. Thus, overall, 207 reservoirs have achieved over 78% water storage, according to the Water Resources Department’s report.
As of the 8 am report today, due to heavy rainfall, the Sardar Sarovar Project has an inflow of 338,000 cubic feet per second (cusec) while releasing 385,000 cusec.
Furthermore, among the reservoirs, 17 in central Gujarat have 87% capacity, 13 in south Gujarat have 78%, 41 in Saurashtra have 66%, 20 in Kutch have 61%, and 15 in north Gujarat have over 39% capacity.
Including Sardar Sarovar, a total of 207 reservoirs have accumulated over 78% of their storage capacity so far. At this time last year, the same 207 reservoirs had recorded more than 76% of their capacity, as per the Water Resources Department’s list.
Railway travel disruptions
According to media reports, heavy rainfall in Gujarat has affected train services, with 30 trains cancelled, 13 short terminated, and 36 diverted. Train services will resume followed by withdrawl of water from the tracks and a thorough assessment is conducted.
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