Thunderstorm, Rain And Hail Lash Parts Of Gujarat; Two Cattle Die In Lightning Strike
Ahmedabad: Gujarat has been hit by a drastic change in weather, as unseasonal rains and stormy winds swept across multiple districts early Sunday. While the showers offered temporary relief from the scorching summer heat, they have sparked concerns in rural areas.
From Ahmedabad to the northern belt of Gujarat, residents woke up to overcast skies and unexpected drizzles. Areas like Vadaj, Usmanpura, and the Income Tax Circle in Ahmedabad experienced light showers, creating a monsoon-like ambiance in the peak of summer.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast rain in 14 districts for Sunday, including Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar. Wind speeds of up to 40 km/h were recorded in several regions, accompanied by lightning and isolated thunderstorms.
Tragedy struck in Kadana taluka of Mahisagar, where lightning killed two cattle. In Mehsana and Mahisagar, sudden high winds and rainfall in the early morning hours disrupted daily routines. Farmers in Banaskantha and Surendranagar reported damage to crops like bajra and sesame due to strong winds and hail in some pockets. Rain and gusty winds were also reported in nearby Santarampur and rural belts bordering Rajasthan. In Palanpur, heavy overnight rain left low-lying areas waterlogged, with 20 mm of rainfall recorded in some spots.
Elsewhere in Gujarat, areas like Himatnagar, Idar, Vadali, and Khedbrahma in Sabarkantha district witnessed heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Similar conditions were reported in Modasa, Bhiloda, and Meghraj in the Aravalli district. In Saurashtra, Patdi taluka in Surendranagar saw widespread rainfall that damaged salt pans and disrupted local production. Villages like Jainabad, Dhamma, and Hematgadh were hit the hardest.
Looking ahead, the IMD has issued continued rainfall warnings for the next two days in districts including Anand, Kheda, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and Surat. Farmers remain on edge as unseasonal rain during the crop-flowering stage poses a serious risk to yield and quality.
While city dwellers might enjoy a brief respite from the heat, the agricultural sector is watching the skies with growing anxiety. The wedding season has also taken a hit, with unexpected power cuts and travel delays caused by stormy weather across the state.