Several talukas in Gujarat’s southern districts, including Navsari, Surat, and Tapi, received heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours ending 10 am Wednesday. Jalalpore in Navsari recorded the highest rainfall at 133 mm (5.24 inches), followed by Navsari town with 108 mm (4.25 inches), Mahuva in Surat (56 mm), Gandevi in Navsari (54 mm), and Valod in Tapi (51 mm).
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning to fishermen, advising them not to venture into the sea along Gujarat’s coast until July 26 due to rough conditions. An orange alert has also been issued for several districts on July 27 and 28, predicting very heavy rainfall.
As of Wednesday 4 pm, heavy showers continued in the southern belt: Dharampur and Pardi in Valsad received 48 mm and 47 mm of rain respectively; Vyara and Valod in Tapi received 46 mm and 44 mm; Mahuva in Surat got 35 mm; Khergam in Navsari received 30 mm; Valsad and Kaprada saw 21 mm and 20 mm respectively.
The rainfall is attributed to multiple active weather systems, including a monsoon trough, upper air cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan, and a trough stretching from northeast Arabian Sea to west-central Bay of Bengal across South Gujarat and other regions.
According to a media report, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Gujarat has so far received 482 mm of rainfall this monsoon — about 54.67% of the season’s average as of July 23.
Since June 1, the administration has relocated 4,278 people to safer areas. Of the 689 rescued, 434 were from Surat and 128 from Bhavnagar. The highest number of people relocated were from Bhavnagar (2,308), followed by Panchmahal (500), Surat (283), Vadodara (173), and Surendranagar (134).
As of Wednesday, the Narmada Dam was 58.19% full, and 206 reservoirs across the state had reached over 60% of their total capacity. Additionally, 48 dams are on high alert, 17 on alert, and 25 under warning status.
IMD Rain Forecast:
- July 24–25: Heavy rainfall expected in Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, and Valsad.
- July 26: Rain likely in Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, Valsad, Amreli, and Bhavnagar.
- July 27 (Orange Alert): Very heavy rain forecasted in Panchmahal, Dahod, and Chhota Udepur.
- July 28 (Orange Alert): Banaskantha, Mehsana, and Sabarkantha expected to receive very heavy rain.
- July 29: Heavy rainfall likely in Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Navsari, Valsad, and Kutch.