The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Gujarat on Sunday, saying the state would receive “heavy to extremely heavy rainfall” on September 17 and 18. It also issued an ‘orange’ alert for the state on September 19.
Gujarat Region is expected to witness heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, surpassing 204.4 mm, from September 17th to 18th,” the IMD wrote on X (formally Twitter). It also warned of “extremely heavy downpours (more than 204.4 mm)” on September 19.
On the same day, the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the state reached its full reservoir level (FRL) of 138.68 metres for the first time this monsoon. Authorities had to open 23 of the dam’s 30 sluice gates to release excess water coming from the catchment areas in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.
More than 250 people in Vadodara and more than 300 in Bharuch have been relocated so far as a result of the joint effort of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local rescue teams.
After the water was released from the dam, the district administration in Narmada issued a notification to shut all schools, colleges, and ITIs closed in the district on Monday.
As per the IMD, a cyclonic circulation associated with a well-marked low pressure area over west central Madhya Pradesh will likely move across northern parts of Gujarat and adjoining southeast Rajasthan during the next two days.