Gandhinagar: The state of Gujarat has been witnessing scorching summer heat with temperatures touching 43º Celsius in many districts. However, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a forecast predicting light rain in several parts of the state during this week. The IMD’s bulletin predicts light rain until the morning of the 18th of May, i.e., Saturday.

In the latest development, Rainfall occurred in parts of Botad, Navsari, Bhavnagar, Sabarkantha, and Dangs districts of Gujarat today from 2 pm to 4 pm, with Botad receiving the maximum rain of up to 20mm.

DAY-1 (Valid from time of origin to 0830 Hrs. IST of 14/05/2024)

 Light rain/thunderstorm very likely at isolated places in the districts of Gujarat region namely
Aravalli, Dahod, Mahisagar, Dangs, Valsad and in Dadra Nagar Haveli; in the districts of Saurashtra
namely Surendranagar and Rajkot.

 Dry weather very likely in the remaining districts of the region and in Diu, Daman.

DAY-2 (Valid from 0830 Hrs. IST of 14/05/2024 to 0830 Hrs. IST of 15/05/2024)

 Light rain/ thunderstorm very likely at isolated places in the districts of Gujarat region namely
Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch and Surat.

 Light rain very likely at isolated places in the districts of Saurashtra namely Surendranagar, Rajkot,
Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir Somnath.

 Dry weather very likely in the remaining districts of the region and in Diu, Daman and Dadara Nagar
Haveli.

DAY-3 (Valid from 0830 Hrs. IST of 15/05/2024 to 0830 Hrs. IST of 16/05/2024)

 Light rain very likely at isolated places in Banaskantha district of North Gujarat; and Gir Somnath of
Saurashtra region.

 Dry weather very likely in the remaining districts of the region and in Diu, Daman, Dadara Nagar
Haveli

DAY-4 (Valid from 0830 Hrs. IST of 16/05/2024 to 0830 Hrs. IST of 17/05/2024)

 Light rain very likely at isolated places in Banaskantha districts of North Gujarat region.

 Dry weather very likely in the remaining districts of the region and in Diu, Daman, Dadara Nagar
Haveli

DAY-5 (Valid from 0830 Hrs. IST of 17/05/2024 to 0830 Hrs. IST of 18/05/2024)

 Dry weather very likely in all the districts of the Gujarat region , Saurashtra- Kutch and in Diu,
Daman, Dadara Nagar Haveli

Meanwhile giving the IMD forecast, the office of the Director of Agriculture has requested the farmers of the state to take precautionary measures.

The office of the Director of Agriculture has informed that to avoid crop loss due to unseasonal rains, farmers should immediately move the farm produce and harvested crops in the open to a safe place or cover them with plastic/tarpaulin. It is imperative to cover the crop properly. Additionally, an earth embankment should be made on the rotating side of the pile to prevent rainwater from seeping under the pile.

Furthermore, the application of pesticides and fertilizers to the crop should be avoided during the rainy season. Fertilizer and seed sellers should also take precautionary measures to store the quantity in a godown or closed place to prevent it from getting wet. Moreover, to protect grains and agricultural produce from rain in Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) areas and to avoid or protect produce coming for sale in APMC during these days, traders and farmers in APMC are requested to be careful and take precautionary measures.