Four Dead in Rain-Related Incidents in Gujarat; Red Alert for Bharuch, Surat Today

Four persons were killed on Tuesday in rain-related incidents in Gujarat, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red-level warning for Bharuch and Surat for Wednesday. Orange level warnings have also been issued for other parts of the state like Anand, Baroda, Narmada, Dangs, Navsari, Valsad and Tapi.

According to The Times of India, two people were killed by lightning at Jhajam near Santalpur in Patan, while one person died due to electric shock in Khapariya near Gandevi in Navsari district. A fourth death occurred due to drowning at Nakhada near Veraval in Gir Somnath district.

Heavy rain in catchment areas, and also upstream in Madhya Pradesh has sent high volumes of water into the state's reservoirs. The government has put 114 dams--more than half the total reservoirs in the state--under high alert. These dams are at 90% of capacity or more. The water level in the Sardar Sarovar dam is 136 metres, just 2.6 metres shy of the reservoir's full capacity. At least 1000 people have reportedly been shifted to safer places along the banks of the Narmada as the discharge from Sardar Sarovar Dam led to a rise in water levels.

The IMD has issued a red alert indicating the possibility of 'extremely heavy' rainfall in Bharuch and Surat on Wednesday. Orange alerts have been issued for several districts in southeast Gujarat.

The cause of the heavy rains in Gujarat is twofold: a cyclonic circulation over Madhya Pradesh, aided by a shear zone formed due to the convergence of moist winds from the Arabian Sea and dry winds from the northwest.

As on September 10, Gujarat region (including Daman) has received 20% excess rain this monsoon season, with Saurashtra and Kutch registering 44% surplus rainfall. As on Tuesday morning, 22 of its 33 districts had registered surplus rain.

More heavy rain is forecast for the state on Thursday, especially in Narmada, Bharuch and Surat, said the IMD on Tuesday.