As many as 25 talukas in Gujarat received unseasonal rainfall with thunderstorm till 8 pm Thursday, with Bhavnagar recording the highest rainfall of 34 mm. Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with high velocity winds in Ahmedabad city resulted in postponement of the programme Viranjali, an event by BJP as a tribute to martyrs. BJP state general secretary Pradipsinh Vaghela told the mediapersons that the event could not be organised Thursday evening due to technical but keeping in mind the enthusiasm of large number of audience that reached at the Event Centre on Sabarmati Riverfront despite rainfall, the event will be organised at 8 pm at the GMDC Exhibition hall on Friday. Later in the evening, however, this too was called off due to “unavoidable reasons” and will now be held on April 20 on the Riverfront, BJP sources said. On Thursday, Rajula and Jafrabad in Amreli recorded 19 mm and 12 mm rainfall, respectively followed by Patan 11 mm and Kheda 8 mm. The India Meteorological Department has issued a forecast of light thunderstorm with lightning and surface wind less than 40 kmph (in gust) accompanied with light to moderate rain in the districts of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Patan, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Dwarka and Kutch on Friday. The unseasonal spell of rains has resulted in drop in maximum and minimum temperatures across the state on Thursday. The highest maximum temperature was recorded at Valsad at 36 degrees Celsius followed by Ahmedabad at 35.4 degrees Celsius. Okha was at 24.4 degrees Celsius, the highest minimum temperature in the state. Dwarka recorded the lowest maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius while Mahuva at 19.9 degrees Celsius recorded the lowest minimum temperature. The weather department has issued a forecast of no large change in the maximum temperatures in Gujarat during next three days; there after rise by 2-3 degree Celsius and similarly no large change in minimum temperatures during next four days; thereafter fall by 2-3 degree Celsius.
