Gujarat Rain Highlights: As rain wreaks havoc killing 36 across state, IMD sounds cyclone warning

A section of road outside the entry gate of Mundra Port in Kutch was flooded on Friday morning, halting inward traffic. The flooding has caused significant disruptions, affecting transportation and logistics in the area. 

A deep depression that triggered torrential rains and floods in Gujarat intensified into cyclone Asna on Friday, off the coast of Kachchh and the adjoining areas of Pakistan, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

This is the first cyclonic storm in the Arabian Sea in August since 1976. The name Asna has been given by Pakistan.
Between 1891 and 2023, only three cyclonic storms formed in the Arabian Sea during August (in 1976, 1964, and 1944), according to the IMD, the PTI reported.  

An 11-year-old boy, missing since Wednesday after he and his parents were swept away by a flooded river in Moti Khilori village, Rajkot, has been found dead. The family attempted to drive across a causeway during severe flooding, highlighting the dangers of such conditions.

An 11-year-old boy, missing since Wednesday after he and his parents were swept away by a flooded river in Moti Khilori village, Rajkot, has been found dead. The family attempted to drive across a causeway during severe flooding, highlighting the dangers of such conditions.

Indian Army columns continued flood relief operations in the worst-affected areas of Gujarat on Friday, providing immediate Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), according to an Indian Army source.

Waterlogging was reported in Bhuj on Friday following heavy rainfall in the region. Following a request from the Gujarat government, six columns of the Indian Army are conducting rescue operations in the worst-affected areas as the flood-like situation persists in parts of the state due to incessant rainfall.

The Army has been deployed to support ongoing relief efforts. ANI

“There was no warning…It began in the dead of night,” rued Bhavan Vasram Bharwad, a resident of Dena village in Gujarat’s Vadodara which is among the worst flood-hit districts in the state.

Since Monday, parts of Vadodara city along with the district have been reeling under the impact of the downpour even after the authorities stopped releasing excess water from Vishwamitri River.

Though the intensity of rainfall in Gujarat has reduced since the last two days, the India Meteorological Department has issued a forecast of rain with heavy winds in Kutch, Morbi, Jamnagar and Devbhoomi Dwarka today. 

In the last 24 hours in the state ending Friday at 6 am, Mandvi taluka of Kutch received the highest rainfall of more than 15 inches. Meanwhile, an average of more than 4 inches was recorded in Kutch district and more than 2 inches in Devbhoomi Dwarka district. All other districts averaged less than an inch of rain.

Among talukas, more than 8 inches of rain were recorded in Mundra taluka of Kutch, more than 7 inches in Dwarka taluka of Devbhoomi Dwarka, more than 6 inches in Abdasa taluka of Kutch and more than 3 inches in Anjar taluka. About 2 inches of rain in Gandhidham, Bhuj and Lakhpat talukas of Kutch were respectively recorded.

According to the State Emergency Operation Center-Gandhinagar, the total average rainfall of the season in the state till 6 am on August 30 has been recorded as 111 percent. 

Kutch zone recorded the highest rainfall of more than 177 percent followed by Saurashtra zone with more than 124 percent and southern Gujarat with more than 111 percent. Apart from this, east-central Gujarat has received more than 105 per cent, while north Gujarat has so far recorded 87 per cent of the season's total average rainfall.

As per state government records, 50385 people have been shifted amid rains across the state and 4225 rescued during this monsoon season as of Friday. In the last 24 hours, a total of 222 talukas in the state have received an average of less than one inch of rain.

The Rajkot Division of Western Railway (WR) on Friday cancelled three trains due to waterlogging at Dwarka-Gorinja section. The Veraval-Okha Express, Rajkot-Okha Local, and Okha-Rajkot Local were cancelled.

The Mumbai Central-Okha Saurashtra Mail was short terminated at Dwarka. The Ernakulam-Okha Express was short terminated at Khambhalia and thus partially cancelled between Khambhalia-Okha. The Ahmedabad-Okha Vande Bharat Express was short terminated at Jamnagar and thus partially cancelled between Jamnagar-Okha.

The Okha-Veraval Express was short originated from Dwarka. Thus it was partially cancelled between Okha-Dwarka. The Okha-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express was short originated from Jamnagar. Thus it was partially cancelled between Okha-Jamnagar.

The India Meteorological Department in a statement said, “Deep depression over Kutch and adjoining areas is likely to move nearly westwards into northeast Arabian sea and intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. It would then move west-northwestwards away from Indian coast during subsequent two days.”

If the deep depression turns into a cyclone, it will be named Asna, a name suggested by Pakistan. This is a rare occurrence that a deep depression over land has converted to a cyclonic storm over the sea. The formation of a cyclone in August in the Arabian Sea is also rare.

“During this period, the sea condition will be rough and wind speed may reach up to 75 kmph along and off the Gujarat coast,” the IMD has said. 

With PTI inputs

Train services have resumed as floodwaters recede in Vadodara.

Watch video:

VIDEO | Gujarat floods: Train services resume as floodwaters recede. Visuals #Vadodara railway station.#GujaratFlood #GujaratRains

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/zEKO4YYyJz

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 30, 2024

Flood situation in Dwarka has improved, however, waterlogging persists in Bhadrakali Chowk of the temple town.In Dwarka and Kutch areas, the intensity of rain has decreased between 8 am and 10 am. However, several areas in Mandvi are under water.

People in Kutch district of Gujarat have been asked to seek shelter in schools, temples or other buildings after the weather department warned of cyclonic formation. Kutch Collector Amit Arora issued a video message urging people living in Abdasa, Mandvi and Lakhpat taluks to move to schools or other buildings. Local authorities have been directed to come forward and provide shelter to such poor people in their houses.

The India Meterological Department has issued an orange alert for districts including Kutch, Jamnanagar, Morbi, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar forecasting very heavy rainfall with gusty winds in the areas. The weather department has predicted that the deep depression hovering over western Kutch is likely to emerge into Arabian Sea and intensify into a cyclonic storm around Friday noon.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel along with Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi visits Vadodara to meet flood-affected people in government schools.

#WATCH | Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel along with Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi visits Vadodara to meet flood-affected people in government schools. pic.twitter.com/nqlnSjTMS2

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024

IMD has placed orange alert predicting heavy rain for Kachchh, Jamnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Porbandar tomorrow. Meanwhile, yellow alert has been issued for Morbi, Junagarh and and Rajkot predicting heavy rain. 

Indian Army soldiers rescue eight persons, including six children from a flooded area in Jodiya, Jamnagar on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Gujarat Information Department. 

Gujarat's Vadodara, where a swollen Vishwamitri river flooded several areas amid torrential downpours, is limping back to normalcy as water has receded from most parts of the city, allowing people to move freely, officials said on Thursday.

From its peak level of 37 feet, 12 feet above the danger mark, Vishwamitri, which runs through the city, is now flowing at 31 feet, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) said in a release.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi visited the city to review the current situation and ongoing relief activities as a few pockets are still waterlogged and facing power outages.

Rain-related incidents have claimed 26 lives in Gujarat over the past four days, while around 17,800 people were evacuated from flood-affected areas amid heavy showers in several parts of the state, officials have said.

Vishwamitri crossed the danger mark of 25 feet on Tuesday morning following heavy rains and due to the release of water from Ajwa dam. It eventually touched the 37 feet mark on Wednesday, breached its banks and inundated several parts of the city. (PTI)

Tappar dam near Anjar town in Kutch overflowed today following heavy rainfall in its catchment area on Thursday. Photo and video courtesy of Gujarat Information Department. 

On rainfall forecast, IMD Scientist Ramashray Yadav says, "The deep depression lies 60km northwest of Bhuj, 80km northeast of Naliya. It is moving at the speed of 3km/hr. Given this system, Saurashtra and Kutch are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall. The districts covered under this are Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagarh, Dwarka, Kutch. Tomorrow, heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Jamnagar, Porbandar, Morbi, Swarka and Kutch districts." 

#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: On rainfall forecast, IMD Scientist Ramashray Yadav says, "The deep depression lies 60km northwest of Bhuj, 80km northeast of Naliya. It is moving at the speed of 3km/hr. Given this system, Saurashtra and Kutch are likely to receive extremely heavy… pic.twitter.com/tEwruSI2KK

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024

CM Bhupendra Patel lands at a helipad in Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka and is received by Porbandar MP Poonam Maadam and Devbhumi Dwarka district collector GT Pandya. The CM is visiting Devbhumi Dwarka to review flood situation in one the worst-hit districts. Photo courtesy of Gujarat Information Department

"Special Investigation Team should be formed under a sitting HC judge to probe the Vadodara floods," said Congress leader Amit Chavda in Vadodara today. "Government should conduct a survey of the actual damage on the ground as residents have suffered loss of crores of rupees in property. A special relief package should be declared for flood affected," added Chavda. 

Rescue operations are underway across the state, where the rain fury has claimed about 35 lives since Monday. Amid waterlogging, as many as 71 villages of Jamnagar remained cut off from the rest of the district, without any supply of electricity. Extremely heavy rainfall continued overnight in Devbhumi Dwarka district. The Bhanyad block in the district logged five inches of rain during 12 hours by 6 am on Thursday. Kalyanpur, Khambhalia and Dwarka blocks recorded four, two and one inches of rain respectively during the same period.

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel held a meeting with officials over the flood situation in parts of Gujarat in Jamnagar today. After reviewing the situation in Jamnagar, he's scheduled to fly to Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district to review flood situation there. From Devbhumi Dwarka, the CM will fly back to Jamnagar and from there, he'll take off for Vadodara.  

#WATCH | Jamnagar: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel holds a meeting with officials over the flood situation in parts of Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/BcJsff4951

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024

Extremely heavy rain continues in Kutch. Mandvi block lashed by 11 inches of rain in 10 hours ending at 4 PM Thursday. Mundra and Abdasa record seven and five inches of rain during this period.

CM Bhupendra Patel lands on Jamnagar airport. After reviewing the situation in Jamnagar, he's scheduled to fly to Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district to review flood situation there. From Devbhumi Dwarka, the CM will fly back to Jamnagar and from there, he'll take off for Vadodara. 

Due to heavy rains in the district, a total of 44 people who were trapped in Amra and Shapar villages of Jamnagar rural taluka were rescued and shifted to a safe place by the team of Provincial Officer and and Indian Army soldiers.

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— Collector Jamnagar (@CollectorJamngr) August 29, 2024

#WATCH | Gujarat: BJP MLA Rivaba Jadeja visits her constituency Jamnagar North and holds a meeting. pic.twitter.com/BQKQcu3lPb

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2024

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel is set to visit Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar and Vadodara to review flood situation. In the 24 hours ending 6 am, Bhanvad in Devbhumi Dwarka district recorded 295 mm rainfall, while Abdasa in Kutch received 276 mm, while Kalyanpur in Devbhumi Dwarka witnessed 263 mm rainfall. Teams of Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), its state counterpart SDRF along with local administration are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the most-affected districts of Vadodara, Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Kutch, officials said.

With PTI inputs

After remaining closed for almost two days, the National Highway 27 which is one of the two lifelines of Kandla and Mundra ports in Kutch has been reopened for vehicular traffic on Thursday morning as floodwaters receded in the area. Meanwhile, as the deep depression which has influenced extremely heavy rainfall in Gujarat since Sunday lay centred on the western part of Kutch, Kutch district has been experiencing extremely heavy rainfall since Thursday morning, disrupting normal life.  

As Gujarat grapples in the aftermath of heavy rain, a 90-year-old resident is being evacuated for medical aid in Vadodara.

Watch video:

As #Gujarat grapples in the aftermath of #heavyrain, a 90-year-old resident is being evacuated for medical aid in Vadodara. Watch video here:

Follow LIVE: https://t.co/HgmGBS35i3 pic.twitter.com/gqdX9Y7YMn

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 29, 2024

Rescue operation is underway in flood affected Gujarat and crocodiles have been saved amid the operations. Range Forest Officer Karansinh Rajput told ANI, "... We have rescued 10 crocodiles in the last 5 days. Two have been released and 8 are still with us. We will release them when the water level of the river decreases... Today, we rescued a 14-foot crocodile from a house near Kamnath Mahadev temple, one from near the Ratri Bazar and an 11-foot crocodile from the Zoology Department of the MS University..."

In view of the grim flood situation in Gujarat, the Central government has instructed all telecom service providers (TSPs) to activate intra-circle roaming facility in nine districts of Gujarat and thereby allow subscriber of a particular TPS to access and use network of other TPS to keep the communication lines open even as extremely heavy rains continued to pound the state on Thursday.

In a directive to Bharti Airtel, BSNL, Reliance-Jio and Vi late on Wednesday, the Ministry of communication asked the TSPs to activate intra-circle roaming (ICR) facilities in nine districts across three regions of Gujarat. They include Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Morbi, Rajkot and Porbandar districts in Saurashtra region, Vadodara, Kheda and Anand districts in Central Gujarat region and Kutch district in Kuth region.

“In view of ongoing heavy rainfall in Gujarat State and in accordance with the clause 29.6 of unified license and as per provisions of SOP-2020 for responding to disasters, all TSPs are hereby instructed to activate the Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) facility in Vadodara, Rajkot, Kheda, Anand, Jamnagar, Kutch, Morbi, Porbandar, Devbhumi Dwarka districts of Gujarat state with immediate effect,” the directive read, adding the ICR services shall be available till 11:59 PM of Friday (August 30) or till further instructions; whichever is earlier.  

ICR services will allow subscribers of one mobile telecommunication service provider to use the network of other service providers for making phone calls and sending messages without any charges and without changing SIM cards. “If you are trapped somewhere, go to the network menu, search a network and select whichever network is available and use it,” district administration of Devbhumi Dwarka said in a communication.  

The Central government directive said that the ICR facility shall be extended to even those who go to these districts from other states. The directive comes in the aftermath of 613 villages of Saurashtra-Kutch regions facing blackout as of Wednesday evening as heavy rains and gusty winds damaged or uprooted 1122 electricity poles and 67 transformers. They include 369 villages of Jamnagar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, 62 in Porbandar, 54 in Rajkot, 46 in Morbi, 31 in Amreli, 16 in Surendranagar, 13 each in Bhavnagar and Botad, seven in Kutch and two in Junagadh.

Rescue operation is underway in flood-hit areas of Gujarat. A video shared by PTI on X shows a helicopter hovering over flooded area in Porbandar.

Watch: 

VIDEO | Gujarat: Helicopter has been pressed into service to rescue people stranded in flood-hit areas of #Porbandar. #GujaratRains #GujaratFlood

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/Oe6zdzedG2

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 29, 2024

As per SEOC data, many Saurashtra districts, especially Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar and Rajkot, experienced very heavy rainfall in 24-hour period ended 6 am on Wednesday .Khambhalia taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district got 454 mm rainfall during this period, followed by Jamnagar city (387 mm), and Jamjodhpur taluka in Jamnagar (329 mm).

As many as 13 out of the state's 251 talukas received more than 200 mm rainfall, and another 39 over 100 mm showers during this period. As per an official release, 140 reservoirs and dams, and 24 rivers in the state were flowing above the danger marks. Rains also disrupted the movement of traffic and trains as roads and railway lines were flooded.

Out of 206 dams, 122 were put on high alert due to sharp rise in their water levels, said the release. As many as 48 trains were cancelled, 14 partially cancelled, and 6 short-terminated. Another 23 trains were diverted to alternative routes, the Western Railway's Ahmedabad division said.

With PTI inputs

As heavy rains continued to lash parts of Gujarat, Vishwamitri river which flows through the city of Vadodara breached its banks and entered residential localities, inundating buildings, roads and vehicles. Floodwaters have inundated Vadodara's Akota stadium and nearby areas.

With PTI inputs.

As rescue operation continued in Gujarat, an Indian Coast Guard helicopter airlifted people from flooded areas of Shumsar village of Kalyanpur of Devbhumi Dwarka. Amid waterlogging, as many as 71 villages of Jamnagar remained cut off from the rest of the district, without any supply of electricity. Extremely heavy rainfall continued overnight in Devbhumi Dwarka district. The Bhanyad block in the district logged five inches of rain during 12 hours by 6 am on Thursday. Kalyanpur, Khambhalia and Dwarka blocks recorded four, two and one inches of rain respectively during the same period.

The India Meteorological Department forecast moderate thunderstorm or lightning with maximum wind speed of 40 to 60 kmph accompanied with heavy rain are likely for next three hours at isolated places in Gujarat including Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Porbandar, Rajkot, Junagarh.

Light to moderate rain is likely in Surendranagar, Botad, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Diu and light rain is likely iver Banaskantha, Patan, Mahesana, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Sabar Kantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Khera, Anand, Panchmahal, Suret, Tapi, Vadodara, Bharuch Narmada, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Bhavnagar.

• The State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar said that while 15 people died on Tuesday, four deaths were reported on Wednesday. The district collectors reported four deaths in Morbi and two in Rajkot district.
• On Tuesday, wall collapse incidents killed three persons in Anand district’s Khadodhi village, two in Mahisagar’s Haripura village, two in Ahmedabad’s Dhingra village and Sanand as well as one at Kheda’s Chitrasar village.
• While one person each drowned in Bharuch’s Piludara village, Junagadh’s Mangrol village, Panchmahal’s Halol as well as Ahmedabad’s Dholka taluka and Maninagar in Ahmedabad city, two persons drowned in Surendranagar’s Dhrangadra.
• The SEOC recorded four deaths on Wednesday — one person each drowned at Dang’s Ahwa and Jamnagar’s Dhrol, one died in wall collapse at Aravali’s Malpur and another died due to a tree fall in Devbhoomi Dwarka’s Bahnvad.
• On August 25 and 26, 10 people had died due to drowning, tree felling and wall collapse incidents in different parts of the state.

On Wednesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a meeting to review the flood situation in the state. Patel ordered for prioritization of relief operations in Vadodara, Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar areas.

Here's what Patel ordered and said during the meeting yesterday.

•  Patel stated that soon after the flood water recedes in Vadodara, teams from Ahmedabad, Surat, Bharuch, and Anand Municipal Corporation will be deployed with cleaning equipment and disinfectants in the affected areas. This activity will be organised in coordination with the Urban Development Department and the Municipal Director “for effective cleaning”.
• Patel ordered a medical team from the Gujarat Health Department, along with necessary medicines, be sent to Surat, Bhavnagar, Gandhinagar, and Rajkot to prevent the spread of water-borne and vector-borne diseases in the rain-affected districts.
• Patel directed that “operations for distributing cash assistance and household support” be “started immediately” in all affected districts.
• Also, five additional National Disaster Response Force teams from Anand, Narmada, Surendranagar, and Valsad, and four Army columns from Anand, Kheda, and Gandhinagar, will be mobilised to address the ongoing flood situation in Vadodara, said the CM.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Saurashtra and Kutch on Thursday, warning against very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. For Friday, the IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall for Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Botad and Kutch.

Torrential rains have claimed 35 lives in three days since Monday in Gujarat and rescue operations continued in the state. Around 17,800 people were evacuated from flood-hit areas amid heavy rains.

On Wednesday, Saurashtra region like Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Porbandar received between 50 mm and 200 mm of rain in 12 hours, ending 6 pm. Bhanvad taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka received 185 mm of rain during this period — the highest in the state. Rescue operations are being carried out by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard.

Hello and welcome to Gujarat Rain Live blog! Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in parts of Gujarat, claiming lives of about 35 people since Monday. On Thursday, a wall at Rajkot International Airport has collapsed and rescue operation is underway in the state. Follow this space for latest updates on Gujarat Rains.