S Gujarat faces a rainstorm; Vapi gets 13 inches of rain in 24 hours
IMD issues Flash Flood Risk (FFR) alerts for various regions due to flooding in Vapi; hundreds evacuated due to flooding; IMD predicts more rain until Tuesday
In South Gujarat, heavy rainfall caused significant disruptions over the weekend across several districts. The industrial town of Vapi in Valsad suffered from the monsoon, receiving 12.83 inches of rain between Saturday night and Sunday morning, the highest amount in the state. In addition to widespread waterlogging, areas such as Kaprada in Valsad and Pardi in Valsad also reported heavy rain, resulting in swollen rivers.
The rainfall in South Gujarat was also heavy in Umarpada in Surat (11.02 inches), Khergam (10.55 inches), and Dharampur (8.90 inches), while Khergam in Navsari recorded 9.76 inches.
The heavy rainfall had a severe impact on Surat, Tapi, and Narmada districts, forcing many residents to flee from low-lying areas in Valsad and Navsari. To ensure the safety of citizens, the state government has instructed district administrations to evacuate those in vulnerable areas and prioritize protection for livestock. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel added that emergency aid is also available through the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Just 24 hours ago, 141 talukas in the state recorded more than 1 inch of rainfall, while 85 talukas experienced over 2 inches. There is a Flash Flood Risk (FFR) alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman, Anand, Aravalli, Bharuch, and others.
Northern and eastern parts of Gujarat experienced less intense rainfall, with the former receiving 64.91% and the latter 68.84% of the total average annual rainfall thus far. On Sunday morning, Sagbara taluka in Narmada received 64 mm (approximately 2.52 inches) of rain between 6 am and 8 am. The downpour has caused a rapid increase in the water level of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam, which is now at 135.30 metres, just shy of its maximum capacity of 138.68 metres. Currently, water is being released through 15 radial gates from the dam.
Crisis between Gandevi and Bilimora
Over 400 houses were flooded in Gandevi-Bilimora, Navsari because of extreme rainfall. During the 24 hours ending at 4 pm on Sunday, Gandevi taluka received 3.08 inches of rain, leading to significant flooding. The rising levels of Kaveri River forced many residents to relocate. With the help of boats, 100 people from 35 families living in low-lying areas near Desra were transferred to a nearby primary school.
The Kaveri River is currently flowing at 20.50 feet, exceeding its usual level of 19 feet, and the Ambika River is close to breaching its danger level as well.
Gujarat has received 81.81% of its average annual rainfall, with South Gujarat receiving 97.52%. The State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) has put 72 of 206 reservoirs on high alert.
IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, including Vadodara, Surat, Bharuch, and parts of Saurashtra, until Tuesday morning.
Also Read: Heavy Rains in Noida
A SSD releases 2.2 lakh cubic feet of water per second
In Madhya Pradesh, the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNL) released around 2.2 lakh cusecs of water into the Narmada River as a result of heavy rains and rising water levels at Omkareshwar Dam. For this purpose, 15 gates at the Sardar Sarovar Dam were opened to a height of 1.65 meters. Authorities had also warned residents of low lying areas to stay safe before the release.