Gujarat has received 51 per cent of the season’s average rainfall in the last two weeks, the highest in the state since 2015.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the state has already recorded an average of 85 per cent more rainfall this monsoon season.
In the last five days alone, the share of rainfall received against the average rainfall in the state has increased by 23 per cent – from 27.69 per cent (235.44 mm) on July 9 to 50.98 per cent (433.35 mm) on Thursday. Morning.
Taking this part further, the state received heavy rains in some parts of South Gujarat and Saurashtra districts on Thursday.
The Madhavaraiji temple in Sutrapada taluka was flooded as the water level in the Saraswati river rose. Ravi Khakhari
When contacted on this additional rainfall event, IMD Regional Director Manorama Mohanty said Indian Express“In the long forecast it was predicted that Gujarat will receive very good rainfall this monsoon season and also that there will be more rainfall in the month of July.”
On possible reasons for this additional rainfall, Mohanty said, “There are two-three consecutive systems active over both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, due to which Gujarat is receiving good rains.”
Despite the onset of southwest monsoon on June 13, two days ahead of its scheduled arrival in Gujarat, the state remained dry for most of June with barely 7.5 per cent rainfall till June 30.
Generally, continuous systems develop in July resulting in no rain in June and good rainfall in July, Mohanty said.
According to rainfall data maintained by the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), among regions, while Kutch received 98 per cent (446 mm) of the season’s average rainfall, northern Gujarat received the lowest at 27 per cent (197.71 mm) of total rainfall. was recorded. this monsoon season.
Two wheeler drivers pass through waterlogged roads in Chanakyapuri, Ahmedabad. Nirmal Harindran
South Gujarat is second only to Kutch with 64.36 per cent (949.87 mm) of rainfall, followed by Saurashtra with 51.18 per cent (366.79 mm) and East Central receiving 41.10 per cent (331.13 mm).
News bulletin , Click to get the best interpreters of the day delivered to your inbox
From June 1 to July 14, 85 per cent excess rainfall was recorded in the state, except two districts – Gandhinagar and Dahod – all have received above normal rainfall.
The losses in these two districts Gandhinagar and Dahod are 34 and 27 per cent respectively. As per IMD forecast, heavy to very heavy rains are likely to continue in Gujarat till July 17.
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert till Friday morning for Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari and Valsad districts in the south and Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath and Junagadh districts in the coastal areas of Saurashtra.
Apart from this, the districts under orange alert are Bharuch, Narmada, Chhota Udaipur and Vadodara along with Amreli and Porbandar.