Gujarat Records 32 Rain-Related Deaths Amid Heavy Rains and Flooding
Gujarat’s Saurashtra-Kachchh region has been hit hard by intense rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicating that a deep depression in the area is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm by Friday.
Once it reaches cyclonic status, it will be designated as ‘Cyclone Asna,’ a name suggested by Pakistan. This storm will mark the first instance of a cyclonic formation over the Arabian Sea in August since 1976, according to meteorological reports. The IMD forecasts moderate to heavy rainfall today, with very heavy downpours expected in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions. An ‘orange alert’ has been issued for districts including Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Dwarka.
As of Thursday, rain-related incidents in Gujarat have led to the tragic loss of 32 lives across various districts. Notably, fatalities were reported in Aravalli, Dwarka, Panchmahal, Dang, Bharuch, Morbi, and Vadodara, among others. The largest number of casualties occurred in Anand and Ahmedabad, where six and five deaths were recorded, respectively.
Current Rainfall Updates:
- The IMD predicts that the deep depression affecting Saurashtra and Kutch will move west-southwestward, eventually entering the northeast Arabian Sea near the Kutch and adjacent Pakistan coasts, where it is expected to strengthen into a cyclonic storm.
- While conditions in some areas of Gujarat have improved with a decrease in rainfall, Vadodara and certain other regions are still grappling with severe flooding due to river overflow, prompting ongoing rescue and relief operations.
- Authorities have successfully relocated over 32,000 individuals to safety, with around 1,200 rescues reported from flood-affected areas. Helicopters have been deployed for urgent evacuations in critical situations.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday to assess the situation, urging him to implement effective measures to prevent disease outbreaks in the aftermath of the floods.
