Gujarat on orange alert: IMD warns of 'extremely heavy' rain as 135 dams near capacity

Gujarat

A fresh spell of intense rainfall is set to lash Gujarat this week, even as the state’s reservoirs near full capacity and authorities maintain a high alert across 135 dams following substantial monsoon activity.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for multiple districts from September 3 to 6, forecasting “heavy to very heavy rainfall” with the possibility of isolated “extremely heavy” downpours. The alert specifically highlights significant risk for districts including Surat, Bharuch, Valsad, Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir Somnath in the coming days.

The impending deluge follows a weekend of vigorous monsoon activity. Data from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Gandhinagar, cited by The Indian Express, shows that within a 24-hour period ending Sunday at 5 pm, the state received an average rainfall of 12.86 mm. Halol taluka in Panchmahal district was the hardest hit, recording a staggering 250 mm. Other areas, including Umreth in Anand and Kadana in Mahisagar, received over 100 mm, with Kadana experiencing 76 mm of rain in just a four-hour window on Sunday morning.

This season’s monsoon, which began on June 15, has delivered 90 per cent of the season's average rainfall statewide as of August 31. While this figure is lower than the previous year, it represents a significant improvement over the deficient rainfall recorded in 2023. SEOC data indicates that the current season’s average stands at 111.18 per cent, compared to 81.82 per cent for the same period last year.

The consistent rainfall has led to critical water levels in the state’s reservoirs. Of Gujarat’s 206 dams, 106 are currently on high alert and a further 29 are under alert. The total water storage has reached a substantial 80 per cent of capacity, holding 44,6369 million cubic feet of water. The cumulative effect has already triggered flooding, with official figures confirming that 1,036 people have been rescued from affected areas and another 5,311 have been relocated to safer ground as a precaution.

Regional disparities in rainfall distribution are evident. Six districts have already exceeded their seasonal average. As reported by The Indian Express, Sabarkantha leads with 125 per cent rainfall, followed by Banaskantha (108 per cent), Mahisagar (107.2 per cent), Kheda (100.52 per cent), Tapi (105.65 per cent) and Bhavnagar (103.87 per cent). Conversely, the Saurashtra and Kutch regions have received the least, at 84.29 per cent and 85.14 per cent of their average, respectively.

With the monsoon expected to withdraw from Gujarat around September 15, the IMD’s forecast for a final intense surge suggests the state must brace for further potential flooding and water management challenges in the week ahead.