Unseasonal Rains Claim Eight Lives In Gujarat, Wreak Havoc On Crops And Livelihoods

Widespread unseasonal rains accompanied by thunderstorms wreaked havoc in Gujarat on Sunday, claiming the lives of at least eight individuals in various districts. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 220 out of 251 talukas received substantial rainfall, disrupting normal life and causing significant damage to crops, as reported by PTI.

In Ahmedabad city, a sudden downpour of 15 mm in two hours during the morning hours disrupted weekend plans for residents, with additional showers later in the evening. The unexpected rain also brought joy to the locals of Rajkot, who witnessed the unusual weather with a mix of rain and hail.

The impact extended beyond agriculture, affecting the ceramic industry in Morbi district as factories were compelled to shut down due to the adverse weather conditions. Lightning, gusty winds, and thunderstorms accompanied the untimely rains, resulting in fatalities in Mehsana, Dahod, Sabarkantha, Tapi, Botad, Amreli, and Ahmedabad districts.

Among the casualties, a 22-year-old biker in Botad taluka lost his life to a lightning strike, while a 29-year-old man perished when a tree fell on an autorickshaw in Mehsana district. Tragically, two farmers lost their lives in Tapi district, with one fatality each reported in Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, and Dahod districts due to lightning strikes.

The calamity extended to livestock, with reports of cattle and sheep falling victim to lightning strikes in some areas. Manorama Mohanty, the Director of IMD’s meteorological center in Ahmedabad, explained that heavy rainfall was expected in Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Bhavnagar, Botad, and Amreli districts, owing to a cyclonic circulation over the northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch regions.

Providing a glimmer of relief, Mohanty assured that the rainfall was forecasted for Sunday only, with conditions expected to improve by Monday. While light rains were anticipated in some parts of south Gujarat and Saurashtra on Monday, the state is predicted to experience dry weather from Tuesday onwards, as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).