With the dawn of the monsoon over India, the state of Gujarat recorded a total of 23.82% rainfall till Monday. As the monsoon hit Gujarat last week, it caused many flood-like situations, the meteorological department has issued a warning of heavy rainfall across Gujarat on Tuesday as well.
The monsoon this year has claimed as many as 32 lives and 300 animals. On Monday, 55-year-old Zarinaben Qureshi, a resident of Juhapura area in Ahmedabad, died when the balcony of her fourth-floor flat collapsed due to heavy rain. In Morbi and Patan districts, 3,900 people had to be shifted to safer locations.
As per the state emergency operation centre data, Waghai taluka of Dang district has received maximum rainfall of 129 mm — Dang taluka alone received 75 mm of rain in the last 24 hours. In Gandhinagar district, Kalol taluka received the highest rainfall of 71 mm on Monday, followed by Mansa (51 mm), and Dehgam (42 mm). Gandhinagar taluka received least (31 mm). Ahmedabad recorded an average rainfall of 50.61 mm in the past 12 hours.
Traffic in Ahmedabad was also affected by the heavy rainfall which caused water clogging.
Also, with the water level at Ahmedabad’s Vasna Barrage reaching 131 feet, three of its gates were opened on Monday. As many as 28 roads have been affected. The state government said the situation was under control. “There is no reason to panic. At two places, people had to be evacuated. There were, however, no casualty. I am personally monitoring the situation and holding meetings with all the concerned departments. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also chaired a meeting today (Monday) to take stock of the situation,” said Revenue Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.
Another problem which surfaced with heavy rains is the rise of malaria. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has reported 852 cases of malaria this June as compared to 570 last year.
