12 dead, 11 missing and around 6000 relocated after heavy rainfall in Gujarat & parts of Rajasthan

Seven died in rain-related incidents in Gujarat, more than 6,000 relocated

Around 12 people died while 11 were reported missing in rain-related incidents in Gujarat and southern Rajasthan in the past 48 hours even as heavy showers continued to affect the two neighbouring states for the third consecutive day on Tuesday,

More than 6,000 people have been moved to safer locations as a result of the constant rain and rising water levels in rivers and dams, they said.

Officials from the state governments of the two states said that most of the reservoirs in the area affected by the rain were overflowing, and that this could indicate more floods in the days ahead.

A high alert has been issued for 96 reservoirs because, according to an update from the state government, their flows were above dangerous levels. For 19 reservoirs that were flowing close to their danger marks, a warning was issued.

In the areas hit by the rain in both states, schools have been closed for the past two days.

The heavy rainfall in the region is due to formation of intense weather system caused by deep depression formed over eastern Rajasthan and adjoining west Madhya Pradesh, which has moved towards Gujarat.

Seven people died on Monday in rain-related incidents, according to officials. In the districts of Gandhinagar, Kheda, and Vadodara, four people were killed in wall collapse accidents; in the district of Anand, two people drowned and one person died after a tree fell on him.

As a precaution against flooding in low-lying areas caused by rising water levels in rivers and dams, the administrations of the districts of Panchmahal, Navsari, Valsad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Kheda, Gandhinagar, Botad, and Aravali moved hundreds of residents to safer sites.

The district administration moved some 2,000 people from Panchmahal, while 1,000 people were moved to Vadodara, 1,200 people to Navsari, and 800 people to Valsad, according to officials.

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) has given data showing that the state has received almost 100% of its average annual rainfall thus far. The regions of Kutch, Saurashtra, and south Gujarat have received more than 100% of their average annual rainfall this season.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rains throughout the state until Thursday, with isolated areas of extremely heavy rainfall expected in most parts of the state on Tuesday and in the Saurashtra-Kutch region on Wednesday and Thursday.

The state recorded the most amount of rainfall in Tankara taluka in the Morbi district, which ended at 6 am on Tuesday. Other places that received the most rain were Morva Hadaf in Panchmahal (346 mm), Nadiad in Kheda (327 mm), Borsad in Anand (318 mm), Vadodara taluka (316 mm), and Anand taluka (314 mm).

According to the SEOC, at least 24 of the 251 talukas had more than 200 mm of rain in a single day, and 91 talukas had more than 100 mm of rainfall.

Rajkot city was pummeled by heavy rain again on Tuesday, flooding roadways, underpasses, and low-lying regions. In the four hours since six in the morning, Rajkot city alone saw 142 mm of rainfall, according to SEOC data.

Apart from that, the early morning rains severely damaged Surendranagar, Kheda, and Devbhumi Dwarka.

A high alert was issued for 96 reservoirs, according to the state government, since their flows were above dangerous levels. For 19 reservoirs that were flowing close to their danger marks, a warning was issued.

According to officials familiar with the situation, three individuals were carried away and two people perished in southern Rajasthan as the administration closed the schools in at least three districts.

According to IMD statistics, the greatest amount of rainfall was recorded in Bagidora, Banswara; Sallopat, Banswara; Shergarh, Banswara; Dhambola, Dungarpur; and Veja Sr, Dungarpur, with 167, 165, and 140 mm, respectively.