Gujarat receives 78 pc of season’s avg rain, highest in 6 yrs; most of it in July

The southwest monsoon marked its onset on June 25 — 10 days later than its usual arrival on June 15. Despite the heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Biparjoy in June, most of the share of rainfall this season was received in July.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), July clocked in almost double — 444.62 mm — the rainfall as against 242.96 mm received in June.

A majority of the talukas — 102 out of 251 — received 501-1,000 mm rainfall and no taluka received less than 125 mm rainfall. Forty-six talukas received more than 1,000 mm rainfall.

Among regions, Kutch received the highest of 135.72 per cent followed by Saurashtra with 108.91 per cent.

South Gujarat region recorded 68.40 per cent and North Gujarat 65.79 per cent, followed by the East Central region with 61.73 per cent. Junagadh (151.83 per cent), Kutch (135.72 per cent), Gir Somnath (129.61 per cent), Rajkot (114.29 per cent), Jamnagar (111.29 per cent), Devbhoomi Dwarka (109.63 per cent) and Bhavnagar (103.34 per cent) are the districts with the highest rainfall receipt above 100 per cent.

In 2022, Gujarat had recorded 70 per cent of its season’s rainfall till July 31. However, the rainfall receipt was barely 35 per cent in 2021.

In 2017, Gujarat received an exceptionally heavy rainfall during the third and fourth week of July that led to flooding in large parts of the state with Banaskantha, Aravalli, Morbi, Patan and Surendranagar districts being the worst affected with loss of lives and massive damages.

This year too, normal lives were disrupted in various parts.