Three dead, 7 missing as heavy rains batter Gujarat; IMD warns of more downpour in coming days

Ahmedabad: Several parts of Gujarat were left inundated on Monday after incessant heavy rains battered the states, causing the deaths of three persons and seven missing in different incidents as the authorities evacuated several people to safer areas.

The state is now bracing up for more weather fury after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heavy to very heavy rainfall in multiple districts of Gujarat for the next three days. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a meeting with district collectors, top police officers and senior civic officials of all major cities to take stock of the current situation.

Severe waterlogging was witnessed in many parts of Ahmedabad besides other major cities, bringing daily life to a screeching halt as people struggled to wade through inundated roads.

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Rainfall prediction in Gujarat

According to data from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Borsad taluka in Anand received 268 mm of rainfall, followed by Vadodara taluka in Vadodara district with 262 mm, and Nadiad taluka in Kheda district with 232 mm, all within a 12-hour period.

Authorities have urged people to stay indoors and avoid venturing near water bodies. The IMD has forecast widespread and intense rainfall over the next two to three days, warning of heavy to very heavy rains with isolated extremely heavy downpours in several districts until Thursday morning.

Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, and Panchmahals districts experienced very heavy rainfall on Monday, leading to waterlogging in low-lying areas and underpasses, leaving several people stranded.

“Three people have died in rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll for this season to 99,” said Alok Kumar Pandey, the state commissioner of relief.

The Chief Minister has instructed the relevant department secretaries to take necessary measures, including restoring electricity in affected areas.

Given the red alert issued by the IMD, all district collectors have been directed to cancel staff leaves, according to Pandey. South Gujarat has received 105 percent of its average annual rainfall, Kutch 95.8 percent, while central Gujarat, north Gujarat, and Saurashtra have received 77 percent, 70.74 percent, and 91 percent, respectively.

Pandey also reported that 1,653 people have been rescued so far with the assistance of the NDRF, SDRF, and Coast Guard. Additionally, 17,800 people have been relocated to safer areas as a precautionary measure.

A total of 13 NDRF teams and 22 SDRF teams have been deployed in the affected districts to support rescue and relief operations, he added.

Sardar Sarovar Dam water level rises

The water level in the Sardar Sarovar Dam near the Statue of Unity in Kevdaiya rose exponentially amid continuous rainfall in the state, raising concerns of it overflowing.

Schools closed, several people washed away

The state education department has announced a holiday for primary schools across the state on Tuesday. In Halvad taluka of Morbi district, seven people went missing after a trolley tractor carrying them was swept away while crossing an overflowing causeway. Despite a nearly 20-hour search operation by the National and State Disaster Response Forces (NDRF and SDRF), they remain untraceable.

In Sabarkantha district, two people in a car were caught in the strong currents of a causeway near Katwad village but were rescued after locals alerted the fire brigade. Meanwhile, heavy rains damaged part of a bridge on National Highway 56 due to the strong flow of water in the Bharaj river in Chhota Udepur district, disrupting vehicle movement.