Ahmedabad: Monsoon has gained momentum in Gujarat. In the last 24 hours till 6 am on Saturday, 225 talukas of the state received rain, of which 168 talukas received significant rainfall. The highest rainfall was recorded in coastal Mangrol taluka of Junagadh district, with more than 22 inches, leaving the entire area waterlogged. Due to heavy rain, many rivers have flooded, roads have been washed away, communication with several villages has been cut off, and rescue operations have been carried out in various districts.

The Meteorological Department has today issued a red alert for five districts namely Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari, and Valsad and Bhavnagar; an orange alert for eight districts, including Aravalli, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Porbandar, Rajkot, and Devbhumi Dwarka; and a yellow alert for seven districts. Light to moderate rain has been predicted in the remaining districts. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till July 7 due to rough sea conditions.

According to the State Disaster Management Department, 14 talukas have received 5 to 10 inches of rainfall in the last 24 hours, 85 talukas received 1 to 5 inches, and 118 talukas received less than 1 inch. Till 6 am today, the state has received 13.27 percent of the season’s average rainfall. Zone-wise, South Gujarat has received 17.11 percent, Saurashtra 15.38 percent, East-Central Gujarat 10.87 percent, North Gujarat 7.79 percent, and Kutch only 0.40 percent.

Mangrol taluka, which has been the worst affected by the heavy rains, has received 103 percent of the season’s average rainfall in just three days. Heavy rains have washed away the Dwarka-Somnath National Highway near Hussainabad and the bridge over the Noli river, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. Several villages have been cut off, and people from low-lying areas have been evacuated to safer places by boats.

A total of 29 people were rescued safely in two major rescue operations in Junagadh district. Nineteen people trapped in floodwaters in Samadhiala village and 10 ONGC employees trapped in floodwaters in Buri village of Manavadar were successfully rescued. NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in the district.

The impact of the heavy rains has also been felt in other parts of the state. The Rander-Katargam causeway in Surat has been closed, and traffic has been disrupted on about 20 dirt roads in rural areas. In Navsari, the risk of flooding has been averted as the water levels of the Purna and Ambika rivers have receded. However, urgent repairs have begun after cracks appeared on the Bilimora-Amalsad bridge over the Ambika river.

In Siludi village of Valia taluka in Bharuch district, several families had to be evacuated after floodwaters entered their houses, and two houses collapsed. In Patan, a wall of a government primary school collapsed due to lightning, while three buffaloes died after being struck by lightning in Malupur village of Tharad.

The situation along the coast has also become serious. Danger Signal No. 3 has been hoisted at Jafrabad port in Amreli district, where waves more than 10 feet high are rising. As a precaution, more than 700 boats have been safely anchored, of which about 300 have been pulled ashore with the help of cranes.

The condition of the state’s reservoirs has also improved. The Sardar Sarovar (Narmada) dam is filled to 64.11 percent of its total capacity, while the average water storage in 206 other reservoirs stands at 36.09 percent. Currently, 10 dams are filled to 70–100 percent of their capacity, 20 dams to 50–70 percent, 58 dams to 25–50 percent, and 118 dams are below 25 percent. Two dams have been placed on high alert, one on alert, and seven on warning.

To deal with the heavy rain situation, 10 NDRF and 25 SDRF teams have been deployed across the state, while three NDRF and eight SDRF teams have been kept in reserve. The administration has appealed to people to avoid low-lying areas, not attempt to cross flooded roads and causeways, and step out of their homes only when necessary. DeshGujarat