Rajkot: Since the early morning of June 16th, heavy rains has begun sweeping across multiple regions of Gujarat, particularly in Saurashtra and South Gujarat. Pre-monsoon showers began early in the morning and intensified rapidly, leading to waterlogging and flood-like conditions in several low-lying areas. In a major highlight, Bhavnagar’s Jesar town recorded an astonishing 9.06 inches of rain within a few hours.
Other parts of Bhavnagar were also severely affected, Palitana saw 7.28 inches, Mahuva received 6.93 inches, Talaja 3.31 inches, Gariyadhar 3.03 inches, and Sihor 2.72 inches. In neighboring districts, Rajula in Amreli reported 2.60 inches, Savarkundla 2.28 inches, and Jetpur in Rajkot received 2.05 inches of rainfall.
Between 6 AM and 2 PM today, over 101 talukas in the state experienced significant downpours. While 78 talukas recorded rain levels between 1 and 1 inch, several others including Junagadh, Umargam in Valsad, Una and Sutrapada in Gir Somnath, Khambha and Lilia in Amreli, Dolvan in Tapi, Bhesan in Junagadh, Jafrabad in Amreli, Bhanvad in Devbhumi Dwarka, Talala in Gir Somnath, and Hansot in Bharuch received over 1 inch of rain.
These widespread showers come even before the official onset of monsoon, with meteorological departments confirming the start of active pre-monsoon conditions. Strong winds and heavy rain were also reported in Ahmedabad around noon, with key areas like SG Highway, Prahladnagar, and Gota receiving showers.
Due to intense rainfall, parts of Bhavnagar’s Mahuva, Palitana, and Vallabhipur have witnessed rising water levels. Villages like Dudhula, Gheti, Nani Mal, and Adpur in Palitana have received enough rain to be considered suitable for sowing. In Sihor’s Varal and Budhna villages, heavy showers caused rivers like Khodapur to swell, prompting authorities to close the Varal-Bhakhar route for safety reasons.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for the districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Surat, Navsari, and Valsad, warning of extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. An Orange Alert is in effect for Rajkot, Botad, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bharuch, Tapi, and Dang. A Yellow Alert has been issued for Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, and Narmada, signaling the possibility of heavy rain in these regions.
Residents are advised to stay cautious, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official advisories as weather conditions continue to evolve.