Continuous heavy rainfall in Gujarat since August 25 has resulted in 11 fatalities and displaced nearly 26,000 people, with 33 districts grappling with flood-like conditions.
Of those displaced, 24,000 have been relocated from low-lying areas to shelters, while 1,700 stranded individuals were rescued by the NDRF, SDRF, and IAF over the past two days.
Rajkot and Vadodara have been hardest hit by the intense monsoon, which delivered 20% of the state’s seasonal rainfall of 883 mm in just 72 hours from August 24 to 26. Monday alone saw 94 mm of rainfall, one of the highest single-day totals in the past decade.
The fatalities include three in Anand district, two each in Gandhinagar and Mahisagar, and one each in Ahmedabad, Morbi, Vadodara, and Kheda. The cause of death was attributed to wall collapses (seven cases), drowning (three cases), and a tree collapse (one case). The victims comprised nine men and two women. Notably, wall collapses in Kalol and Lunawada resulted in the deaths of couples.
Rajkot, Saurashtra’s largest city, has been submerged, with residential and commercial areas and roads inundated with waist-deep water. The city’s major Janmashtami fair was canceled due to the severe flooding.
Morbi, the most affected district in Saurashtra, faced extreme conditions as continuous rain led to the release of large volumes of water from the Machchhu dam. In Kutch, India’s largest district, the area between Samakhiyali and Maliya has turned into a river, cutting off the region completely.
Transportation has been severely impacted, with many passengers stranded at train stations due to numerous train cancellations and short-terminations. At least 33 flights at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad were delayed, and two were canceled on Tuesday.
The weather department has reported that three weather systems, including a deep depression, are responsible for the heavy and very heavy rainfall. Gujarat’s industrial sector has also been disrupted, with major hubs like Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, and Anand experiencing a 50% drop in production on Tuesday due to waterlogging and reduced worker attendance.
