Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of Gujarat over the next seven days. Citizens are advised to remain cautious and follow safety instructions, as isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely in some areas until 8:30 am this Sunday.

As per the IMD, a red alert has been issued for Sabarkantha, Navsari, Valsad, and Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli for heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy falls. Orange alert applies to Aravalli, Mahisagar, Dang, Tapi, and Junagadh, while a yellow alert has been issued for Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Kutch, and Diu on August 23.

From August 24 to 29, orange and yellow alerts will continue in different districts each day, with heavy to very heavy rain expected in Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Valsad, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and various Saurashtra-Kutch districts including Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Kutch, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Morbi, and Dwarka.

Cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and other major districts remain under yellow alert throughout the period.

Synoptic Situation:

• A low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal and neighbourhood is expected to move west-northwest across Jharkhand and weaken gradually.

• An upper air cyclonic circulation persists over central north Madhya Pradesh and adjoining south Uttar Pradesh.

• The monsoon trough at mean sea level passes through Ganganagar, Gwalior, Banda, and the centre of the low-pressure area, extending to the northeast Bay of Bengal.

• A fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha-West Bengal coasts around August 25.

The IMD has urged citizens, especially in vulnerable areas, to stay alert, avoid waterlogging, and follow local administration advisories during this period. DeshGujarat