Weather update: Rainfall to continue over Gujarat; yellow, orange alerts in parts of Rajasthan

#WATCH | Narmada, Gujarat: Sardar Sarovar Dam built on the Narmada River had its water level reduced by 10 lakh cusecs after the water was released by opening 23 gates of the dam. pic.twitter.com/8jdOqmhkk3

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2023

The districts of Mahisagar, Sabarkantha, Aravalli and Kheda also witnessed very heavy rainfall, inundating central and northern parts of the state. Following heavy showers in the catchment areas of Sardar Sarovar Dam in Narmada district as well as Kadana Dam in Mahisagar district, both Narmada and Mahisagar rivers touched the danger level on Sunday, prompting district administrations to sound an alert. Schools and colleges in Narmada district will remain closed on Monday.

#WATCH | Bharuch, Gujarat: A team of NDRF conducts floodwater rescue operations and safely evacuates 16 people: NDRF

(Video source: NDRF) pic.twitter.com/1uKlEWuw1n

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2023

Meanwhile, over 8,700 people have been shifted to safer places after rains caused flood-like situation in many areas in Malwa and Nimar regions of Madhya Pradesh, news agency PTI reported. Eight persons were swept away after the embankment of a pond collapsed on Saturday night in Jhabua amid heavy rains in Bahadur Pada village, an official said, adding that two bodies were recovered on Sunday morning, while a search for three women and as many children is underway. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said the Army and Air Force will be called in if required for flood relief operations in the state.

The CM stated he reviewed the situation caused by heavy rains in Khargone, Barwani, Dhar, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Alirajpur and Indore and spoke to officials of these districts.

In Rajasthan, heavy rains triggered flood-like situations in Banswara, Dungarpur and Pratapgarh districts. The weather agency has sounded a yellow alert for Banswara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur districts, and an orange alert for Dungarpur, Rajsamand, Sirohi, Udaipur, Barmer, Jalore and Pali on Monday.

After a dry spell lasting for more than two weeks, both Punjab and Haryana experienced light, moderate and heavy rainfall on Sunday.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Chandigarh Centre, the Yamunanagar area in Haryana recorded the highest rainfall in the region on Sunday followed by Amritsar in Punjab.

Weather Forecast and Warnings:

Central and West India

Moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over western Madhya Pradesh on September 18; Gujarat & southern Rajasthan on September 18-19; Saurashtra and Kutch regions during September 18-20.

Northwest India

Over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, light fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls are very likely on September 18.

East India

Meanwhile, moderate fairly widespread to widespread downpours with isolated heavy rains are expected over Andaman and Nicobar Islands on September 18; Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and  Sikkim during September 20-22, Gangetic West Bengal on September 19-20; Jharkhand on the 21st and over Odisha during September 18-22.

Northeast India

Light scattered to fairly widespread showers with isolated heavy rainfall activity is very likely over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during September 18-22; Arunachal Pradesh on September 20-22.

(With PTI inputs)