The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rain in six Gujarat districts for the next three hours, till 1 pm on Thursday.
The alert covers Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Sabarkantha, Aravalli and Mahisagar. The IMD has warned of rainfall of more than 15 mm per hour, wind speeds of 41 to 60 kmph and a more than 60% chance of lightning in these areas.
An orange alert has been issued for several districts across central, north and south Gujarat and Saurashtra. These include Banaskantha, Mehsana, Patan, Surendranagar, Botad, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Anand, Navsari, Tapi, Narmada, Surat, Panchmahal, Dahod, Bharuch, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Dang, Valsad, Diu, Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
These areas may receive 5 to 15 mm of rain per hour, along with strong winds and a 30% to 60% chance of lightning.
A yellow alert has been issued for Kutch, Morbi, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar and Junagadh. Light rain of less than 5 mm per hour, winds below 40 kmph and a less than 30% chance of lightning are expected in these areas.
The administration has advised citizens to remain cautious, avoid open areas and stay away from electricity poles during thunderstorms. People have also been urged to move to safe shelters during severe weather.