Ahmedabad: Gujarat witnessed heavy and continuous rains on Monday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) the deep depression over north Gujarat moved slowly westwards with a speed of 4 kilometres per hour (kmph) in the past 6 hours and lay centered at 5;30 am on August 27 over the same region, near latitude 23.8 degrees North and longitude 72.2 degrees East.
Fairly widespread light to moderate rains likely over western India
The IMD in its predictions said that fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall is very likely over West and Central India during this whole week. Isolated heavy rainfall might occur in Gujarat on August 29 and August 30 and Saurashtra and Kutch region on August 30 and September 1. Some parts of the state are also likely to receive very heavy rainfall on August 28.
Gujarat battered by rains, 7 missing
If rainfall is predicted in the coming days for Gujarat, the situation was no different on Monday. A high alert has been sounded across the western state following heavy rains on Monday which left several areas inundated. Hundreds of people were moved to safety.
At least 3 people died and 7 others are missing after heavy rains in the state. The IMD meanwhile has warned of continuous rains till Thursday morning in the state. Heavy tio very heavy rains are expected in several parts of the country.
Following heavy rains, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a meeting with the district collectors, superintendents of police and senior civic officials. All primary schools run by the state government declared a holiday on Tuesday.
The National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force are involved in the rescue and relief operations and are looking for the missing persons. The 7 people missing were swept away after a trolley tractor was washed away on an overflowing highway in Halvad taluka of Morbi district. In another incident, 2 people travelling by car were washed away in Sabarkantha district. However they were rescued by the fire brigade after locals alerted officials about the incident.
National Highway 56 was damaged due to the strong flow of water in the Bharaj river in Chhota Udepur district. This impacted the movement of vehicles. Heavy rains hit Vadodara, Anand, Kheda and Panchmahals districts on Monday. South Gujarat has received 105 per cent, and Kutch 95.8 per cent of its average annual rainfall for the season, while central, north Gujarat and Saurashtra have received 77 per cent, 70.74 per cent and 91 per cent rains.