The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for eight districts in Gujarat. The districts affected are Mahisagar, Aravalli, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Kheda, Sabarkantha, Dahod, and Panchmahal. Residents in these areas should prepare for moderate rainfall and possible thundershowers. This weather could lead to waterlogging and traffic congestion.
In addition to the orange alert, a yellow alert has been issued for several other districts. These include Kachchh, Banaskantha, Patan, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Dangs, Navsari, and Valsad. This means these regions may also experience significant rainfall and storms.
The IMD forecasts that heavy rainfall will persist in Northeast and adjoining East India for the next seven days. On Saturday, extremely heavy rain was recorded in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh.
In the national capital, Delhi, heavy rain continued on Sunday morning. Areas such as Vijay Chowk, Connaught Place, and Minto Bridge experienced intense showers. The IMD had earlier anticipated light to moderate rain with thunderstorms in parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) including Bahadurgarh, Manesar, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram.
Himachal Pradesh is also suffering from the impact of monsoon rains. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported 403 roads blocked and 411 power transformers down due to rain-related damage. Unfortunately, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has reported 179 deaths since the monsoon began, with many caused by landslides, flash floods, and building collapses.
As heavy rains lashed Gujarat recently, Surat and other districts faced severe weather conditions. The IMD has now expanded its orange alert to 13 districts, warning of very heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. The newly included districts are Panchmahal, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Surat, Bharuch, Navsari, Valsad, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Gir Somnath. Most districts, except for Kutch, Morbi, Jamnagar, and Dwarka, are likely to receive heavy rain.
The IMD continues to monitor the weather closely. They have predicted that from June 24, heavy rain is likely in several areas, including Gandhinagar, Aravalli, Kheda, and more. By June 25, certain districts will experience heavy downpours, while others may see only light rain.
The weather department advises caution in these affected areas. Residents are encouraged to stay alert and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety. With the ongoing monsoon, it is vital to remain informed about weather updates and alerts.
This situation highlights the need for preparedness during monsoon season. Heavy rainfall can disrupt daily life and pose risks to safety. Authorities will continue to provide updates as the weather evolves in Gujarat.