Storm, heavy rain leave trail of destruction in Navsari

Heavy overnight rain and strong winds wreaked havoc across several villages in Gujarat’s Navsari district, particularly in Chikhli and Vansada talukas, as per reports.

According to reports, the storm caused significant destruction in areas including Chikhli, Talav Chora, Maliadhara, and Soladhara. Strong gusts are said to have blown away the roofs of multiple houses, leaving belongings soaked, while power supply was disrupted after electric poles were uprooted. Foodgrains stored by villagers were reportedly drenched, and livestock owners faced losses as fodder was spoiled. In some cases, solar panels installed on rooftops were also damaged or blown off.

Officials stated that the wall of a government grain warehouse in Chikhli collapsed during the downpour, reportedly submerging more than 277 tons of wheat and rice. Efforts are underway to shift the soaked grains to a safer location, warehouse manager Jignesh Chaudhary said.

Chikhli Mamlatdar and other local authorities have visited the affected sites to assess the situation. Gandevi-Chikhli MLA Naresh Patel said that the storm late Saturday night caused widespread damage to homes and farmland across several parts of Chikhli taluka, adding that he personally inspected the impacted areas overnight.