Ahmedabad: After weeks of blistering heat and humidity, Gujarat welcomed the monsoon with open arms as heavy rainfall swept across 200 Districts today, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Bhavnagar’s Palitana recorded the highest rainfall at 11.5 inches, while 70 Districts reported over 1 inch of rain. The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Tuesday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Amreli, and Bhavnagar.
Bhavnagar district bore the brunt of the downpour, with Jesar witnessing a deluge of 10.5 inches between 6 AM and 6 PM, as if the skies had burst open. The heavy rainfall triggered emergencies across the region. In Talaja’s Valar village, five people stranded in the Bagad River were rescued, while in Mahuva’s Talgajarda, a school bus stuck near a causeway prompted a daring rescue of 36 students by local authorities and villagers. Overflowing rivers like Talaji and Bagad, along with Gautameshwar Lake and Malan Dam, prompted alerts for nearby villages and areas.
Other parts of Saurashtra, including Amreli, Botad, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, and Rajkot, also experienced heavy rainfall. In Savarkundla, overnight showers caused the Navli River to swell, with several check dams overflowing. Low-lying areas saw waterlogging, disrupting daily life.
South Gujarat, meanwhile, enjoyed a second day of steady monsoon rains, offering respite from oppressive heat. Up to 3 inches of rainfall was recorded, encouraging farmers to begin agricultural work. Neighboring Union Territories also saw up to 3 inches of rain, with rivers, streams, and waterfalls coming alive in Dang district. In Valsad, the monsoon gained momentum, with an average of 1 inch of rain in the last 24 hours. Umargam recorded the highest at 3 inches, followed by Kaprada (2.5 inches), Vapi (1 inch), and Valsad and Pardi (0.5 inches each). The Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman reported 3 inches and 2 inches of rain, respectively.
In Vadodara, the monsoon officially arrived with a shift in weather patterns. Dabhoi recorded 6 inches of rain overnight, leading to widespread waterlogging. The sudden downpour caused roads in remote villages to flood, halting vehicular movement.