Ahmedabad Braces for Extremely Heavy Rainfall as IMD Issues Red Alert for July 31

Ahmedabad: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for July 31, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall in several districts of central and south Gujarat, including Ahmedabad city. The Meteorological Department has advised citizens to exercise extreme caution and step out of their homes only if absolutely necessary.

Following the red alert, the Ahmedabad district administration has declared a holiday on July 31 for all government, granted and self-financed schools and colleges in the city to ensure the safety of students.

According to the IMD’s rainfall warning, a Red Alert has been issued for July 31 in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Anand, Bharuch, Narmada, Chhota Udepur, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Tapi, Dang, Bhavnagar and Botad districts.

An Orange Alert has been issued for Gandhinagar, Kheda, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Dahod, Panchmahal and Mahisagar, while a Yellow Alert has been issued for the remaining districts of north Gujarat and Kutch.

On August 1, Ahmedabad will continue to remain under a Red Alert, with the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall. Rajkot, Surendranagar and Anand are also under a Red Alert for August 1.

As per the IMD, heavy rainfall is defined as 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm (2.5 to 4.5 inches) of rain in a 24-hour period, while very heavy rainfall ranges from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm (4.6 to 8 inches). Extremely heavy rainfall refers to 204.5 mm or more (over 8 inches) within a 24-hour period.

How much rain has Ahmedabad received so far?

According to rainfall data from the Main Control Room of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) till 2 pm on July 30, the city has received an average of 512.53 mm (20.18 inches) of rainfall this monsoon season, which is 56.06% of the average seasonal rainfall recorded over the last five years. During the last 24 hours, the city recorded an average rainfall of 0.34 mm.

The administration has appealed to citizens to follow advisories issued by the IMD and the local administration, avoid venturing into low-lying areas, and contact local authorities immediately in case of any emergency.

What are the possible impacts?

The IMD has also warned of several possible impacts during the Red Alert:

• Waterlogging on major city roads may disrupt traffic.
• Flood-like conditions may develop in low-lying areas.
• Heavy traffic congestion and road blockages are likely.
• There is a risk of casualties due to lightning strikes.
• Slums located near rivers, canals and railway tracks may be severely affected.
• Rising river water levels may increase the risk of flooding in riverbank areas.
• Municipal services, including water supply and electricity, may face local disruptions.
• Old and dilapidated buildings may suffer damage.
• Trees, branches and hoardings may collapse due to strong winds.
• Kharif crops, including paddy, maize, millet, urad, banana, chickpea and mango, may suffer damage in the city’s outskirts.
• Garbage clogging drains and sewers may worsen waterlogging and drainage problems.
• Solar power generation may be affected due to persistent cloud cover.
• Livestock and agriculture may suffer significant losses due to flooding and soil erosion.
• Sudden, life-threatening situations such as flash floods may occur in vulnerable areas.
• There is also a possibility of landslides in hilly regions.
• Fishing activities along the Gujarat coast may be severely affected.

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