Rains bring some relief to farmers

The state had received a total of 392 millimetres of rainfall till 4 in the evening,with Kutch registering the maximum at 76 mm.

Forty-six people have been killed in Gujarat this monsoon,according to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). Twenty-nine people died of lightning,including 10 in Jamnagar – the highest for any region in Gujarat.

But no deaths were reported due to rain or lightning today.

Kamaljit Ray,Director-in-charge at the Indian Meteorology Department in Ahmedabad said,“Lightning and thunderstorms are common features of initial rains,but they subside once it rains consistently for a few days.”

The other monsoon-related deaths were due to uprooting of trees or caving in of houses in heavy rain or strong wind,the GSDMA said,adding that there have been no floods or emergencies requiring evacuation of the population in any part of the state though.

The Met Department further said that most parts of the state,including Ahmedabad will not receive rainfall till July 15 as the low-pressure build up over the Bay of Bengal will pull away the monsoon clouds towards the east.

But coastal Gujarat – Saurashtra and Kutch – will experience some rain and lightning for the next two days,but will recede after that.

Once the low pressure relaxes over the Bay of Bengal,rains will come to most parts of Gujarat once more,along with lightning and thunderstorms.