Gandhinagar: Gujarat’s second largest city Surat and the third-largest city, Vadodara, were among the top three places that received the highest rainfall today during 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. While Surat city received 3.11 inches of rain, Vadodara received 3.03 inches of rain. The largest city of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, also remained rain-soaked through the evening; however, the rainfall was not so intensive and less than one inch. Navsari city in South Gujarat received 2.60 inches of rainfall and stood in fourth place in the chart.

For Vadodara, the rainfall was sudden, as it started at 6 p.m. and it was over 2.55 inches in just two hours. By 10 pm, it was over 3 inches. As per the chart, Ahmedabad received half-inch rainfall. However, there were area-wise variations. It was a rain-soaked evening for the city after a big gap during this departing portion of monsoon 2024. Traffic jams and power failure incidents are also reported from various areas.

More than 300 trees were uprooted by wind speeds of 110 km/h for 20 minutes in the evening in Vadodara and in other parts of the district, such as Padra. Power poles fell at three locations, including Jubilee Bagh. Several hoardings in the city also fell due to the strong winds. Injuries of people due to trees falling were also reported. The signboard of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) also came down. A number of trees fell on the MS University campus as well. Some low-lying areas of the city experienced waterlogging.

According to reports received by the fire department, 150 tree-cutting operations had been completed by 6 AM. While, trees are still lying in many areas of the city. So far, 14 cars, 14 two-wheelers, and one rickshaw have been found, with a total of 29 vehicles damaged. Power supply remains disrupted in several areas. Three shops have been damaged by falling trees in the Junigadhi area of the city.

Dharmesh Patel, Superintendent Engineer of MGVCL, provided an update on the power supply due to the storm, stating that around 40 feeders were shut down in Vadodara city due to the heavy storm yesterday. These feeders were operational by late night. So far, 57 power poles have collapsed, and work to restore power supply is ongoing in two to four areas, including Tarsali and Mandvi in the city.

A 24-year-old man, Kiransinh Chatrasih Rathore (resident of Pipligam Ghantiwalu Paliu, Padra, Dist. Vadodara), died in Padra district yesterday evening while riding his bike near Ambashkari when he was struck by a Nilgiri tree. He died due to severe injuries caused by a tree falling on his head.

Due to the rain, trees fell in many areas, crushing parked two-wheelers and cars when the wall of the historic Kothi office collapsed. More than 10 hoardings were blown down by winds of 110 km/h. Fortunately, there were no casualties, although some roads were blocked, prompting the fire brigade to clear them.

In another spectacle, an entire lorry was swept away by heavy winds, while parked vehicles fell due to the strong gusts. All of this was recorded on CCTV.

A video showcasing water leaks at Vadodara Airport has also gone viral on social media, with roof leakages causing problems for passengers.

Many flats on Vemali Road had broken windows. The glass in the shutter windows shattered due to the winds, causing fear among residents, who stayed away from doors and windows amid the alarming situation.

Garba grounds became muddy due to waterlogging, with the leaves that cordoned off the area also blown away. All the decorations, including the pylons on some garba grounds, were damaged, forcing the organizers to prepare again.

The solar panels of Sayaji Hospital’s new library and auditorium collapsed, while the solar panels on the terrace of Krishna Tower in the Navapura area also fell from the 10th floor. DeshGujarat