South Gujarat has received the highest rainfall in the state in the past 24 hours. Khergam in Navsari recorded 9 inches of rainfall, while Valsad and Dharampur received 7 inches each.

Meanwhile, the state has received more than 67% of its total seasonal rainfall. The Kutch zone recorded the highest rainfall with over 86%, followed by South Gujarat at over 81% and Saurashtra at over 77%. North Gujarat received over 50% and East-Central Gujarat received over 84% of its seasonal average rainfall.

South Gujarat lashed by heavy rains

Incessant heavy rains in the past two days in Navsari, as well as the upstream Dang district, have caused the Purna, Ambika, and Kaveri rivers to overflow.

This phenomenon has led to flooding in low-lying areas along the river banks, affecting normalcy. The three rivers were reported to be flowing 5 feet below their danger levels, especially affecting low-lying areas in Chikhli, Khergam, and Bilimora.

As many as 64 roads in the region were closed due to flooding, and hundreds of people were evacuated to safer locations.

Two houses collapsed in Ajrai and Posari villages of Navsari’s Gandevi.

Heavy rains have caused schools and colleges in Vapi and Valsad to be closed today. Considering the heavy to very heavy rainfall and a red alert in the region, a holiday was declared for anganwadis, schools, colleges, and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Valsad, Dharampur, and Kaprada as a safety measure.

Additionally, educational institutions in Pardi, Vapi, Gandevi, Chikhli, Bilimora, and Umargam were declared closed.

Gujarat braces for a rainy week

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in South Gujarat for the next three days, with Navsari and Valsad districts predicted to receive heavy rainfall on August 6, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Additionally, scattered to heavy rainfall with thunderstorms is forecasted by the IMD for Banaskantha, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Patan, Aravalli, Kheda, Anand, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Dahod, Chhotaudepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Dang, Surat, Tapi, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surendranagar, Morbi, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh, Porbandar, Amreli, Dwarka, Bhavnagar, Gir-Somnath, Botad, and Kutch.

The intensity of rainfall is expected to dwindle from August 7 and 8 onwards. Light to moderate rainfall is predicted for North Gujarat regions like Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, and Aravalli.

Meanwhile, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Vadodara, Chhotaudepur, and South Gujarat regions like Bharuch, Tapi, Navsari, Dang, Narmada, Surat, Valsad will also receive heavy precipitation.

Regions in Saurashtra including Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Porbandar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Amreli, Morbi, Gir-Somnath, Botad, and Devbhumi Dwarka are expected to receive relatively light rainfall.