Floods, deaths and more: How Gujarat is devastated by heavy rains, which are likely to worsen

Incessant heavy rains have wreaked havoc across Gujarat, resulting in flood-like situations in numerous districts and rivers crossing the danger mark.

About 15 people are reported dead, train and flight services are affected, and there’s no electricity in a few districts.

The situation is expected to become severe as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the state may witness rainfall till September 1.

Here’s how bad the situation is.

Heavy downpours in Gujarat

Significant rainfall was recorded throughout the state on August 25 and 26, according to data cited by The Economic Times (ET).

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that there was rainfall in 237 of the state’s 251 talukas, with 43 of them receiving more than 100 mm.

In just 12 hours, 270 millimetres of rain fell in Padra taluka in the Vadodara district, 268 millimetres in Borsad in Anand, and 232 millimetres in Nadiad in the Kheda district.

Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, and Panchmahals are among the districts that had heavy rains, which resulted in significant waterlogging.

According to Ahmedabad Mirror, significant flooding in the Bharaj river caused a bridge on National Highway 56 close to Shihod in the Chhota Udepur district to collapse on Monday night, causing vehicular disruptions.

Another minor bridge spanning the Bhogavo River in the Surendranagar district of Gujarat collapsed on Tuesday afternoon as a result of a sudden rise in water levels brought on by an overflowing dam, as per India TV. The bridge, spanning 100 metres, linked the villages of Habiyasar and Chotila.

Kutch has received 95.8 per cent of the average annual precipitation in Gujarat, whereas South Gujarat has received 105.6 per cent.

North and Central Gujarat have received 77 per cent and 70.74 per cent, and Saurashtra 91 per cent, of their average yearly rainfall, respectively.

Waterlogging, no electricity, and flight services affected

A flood-like situation has been affecting Gujarat, with multiple areas experiencing waterlogging and disruptions in vehicular movements.

The severe weather also affected train and flight services, with a WR cancelling a total of 56 trains and short-terminating 15 and diverting 43 others due to significant waterlogging in three areas, including Bajwa and Ranoli in Vadodara.

An ET report states that heavy rain in Ahmedabad on Tuesday caused over 33 flights to be delayed and two to be cancelled.

Owing to persistent weather, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport advised travellers to confirm their flight schedules and factor in additional time for check-in.

As of Tuesday, 636 roads — including 34 state highways — and 1,018 villages were without power. There are up to 419 villages in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions without access to electricity, according to The Indian Express.

Out of these, 196 are in the district of Jamnagar; 51 are in Surendranagar; 44 are in Porbandar; 41 are in Rajkot; 39 are in Kutch; 32 are in Rajkot; nine are in Amreli; six are in Junagadh; and one is in Bhavnagar.

The annual Janmashtami Mela in Rajkot city by the state government, was also cancelled on Tuesday due to excessive rain.

According to Rajkot district collector Prabahv Joshi, vendors who had paid about Rs 2 crores for plots to erect stalls and amusement attractions at the fair will receive a complete refund.

Rivers breach safety mark 

The state’s rivers are above the danger level in many districts.

As a result of the Narmada River’s constant inflow of dam waters from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, the river surpassed the 24-feet danger level at Golden Bridge, flooding some low-lying districts in the state’s Bharuch district, according to India Today.

Similarly, the Vishwamitri River surpassed the 25-feet danger level on Tuesday morning, forcing more than 3,000 residents of low-lying districts in the Vadodara district to relocate to safer locations.

The Bhadar Dam, the second-biggest reservoir in the Saurashtra region, opened its floodgates Friday night after it filled to capacity.

Many people die in rain fury

The state relief department reports that seven people died on Monday due to rain-related incidents.

In the districts of Kheda and Vadodara, one person died as a result of wall collapse, while two people died in wall collapse incidents at Kalol taluka in Gandhinagar.

Two people drowned in the Anand district’s Isarwada and Siswa villages, while one man died in Petlad village after a tree fell on him.

Furthermore, according to Morbi Collector K B Zaveri, the bodies of three people who were among the eight people who were reported missing on Sunday night when their tractor-trailer swept away in a flooded stream at Dhavana village in Morbi were discovered on Tuesday.

After almost 20 hours of searching, the people are still missing.

Rescue ops

In the two states most severely affected, Vadodara (8,361) and Panchmahals (4,000), more than 12,000 people were relocated on Tuesday, as per India Today.

1,696 people have been rescued and over 23,870 have been sent to safe locations thus far.

In the past two days, 1,200 people from the districts of Navsari, 800 from Valsad, 200 from Bharuch, 235 from Kheda, and 200 from Botad have been evacuated.

According to the report, about 75 pregnant women, 30 from the Devbhumi Dwarka area and 45  from Vadodara, were among those evacuated. They were sent to the closest medical facilities.

To accelerate rescue and relief efforts, the Gujarat government has requested the deployment of six Indian Army columns: one in each of the districts of Dwarka, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Morbi, and Rajkot.

Furthermore, 22 SDRF platoons and 14 NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) platoons have already been sent to assist with disaster management.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to assess the rescue and relief efforts.

“The Chief Minister instructed the District Collectors to take full vigilance and caution by taking the help of the police so that no one goes into the overflowed rivers, drains and lakes as a result of heavy rains. Apart from this, the Meteorological Department has specially urged the District Collectors of the coastal areas to strictly follow the warning to the fishermen not to venture into the sea,” the CM’s Office said in a post on X.

The state’s education department has declared a holiday for primary schools on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also offered additional support from central forces if required.

IMD warnings

The IMD has issued a warning of continued heavy to very heavy rains, and isolated places will likely experience extremely heavy showers until Thursday morning.

As a result, the state administration is on high alert.

District collectors have been directed to ensure that all resources are deployed for relief efforts and to cancel staff leaves in response to the alert.

As the state prepares for stronger precipitation in the coming days, authorities have encouraged residents to stay inside and avoid going near water bodies.

What’s behind the non-stop rains

The IMD reported on Monday that a deep depression that developed over East Rajasthan and nearby West Madhya Pradesh late on August 25 had gotten deeper.

At 8.30 am on August 26, the depression’s centre was 180 kilometres east of Deesa, Gujarat; 180 kilometres northeast of Ahmedabad; and roughly south-southeast of Udaipur, East Rajasthan, according to ET.

In addition, the weather agency said the depression will keep moving slowly in a west-southwest direction, passing over Gujarat and southern Rajasthan.

It is expected to reach Saurashtra, Kutch, and adjoining areas of Pakistan and the northeast Arabian Sea by the morning of August 29, the Met department said.

With inputs from agencies