Heavy rains lash Gujarat, more to come; sowing picks up

Weather dept warns of heavy to very heavy rains at many places in the next 36 hours

The south-west monsoon was active over Gujarat bringing rains to most parts of Gujarat since Wednesday night.

As many as 144 blocks of the state received rains in the last 24 hours with highest rainfall of 264 mm recorded in Umarpada block of Surat district.

The weather department has warned of heavy to very heavy rains at many places in the state in the next 36 hours.

Regions of Saurashtra and Kutch, however, did not receive any rains, but are expected to get moderate to heavy rain with thunder shower in the come two days. Heavy water-logging was seen in many low lying areas of Ahmedabad city which received 24 mm of rainfall till Thursday morning.

Heavy rain coupled with strong winds had resulted in falling of trees in some areas of the city. Rains also lashed southern districts of Surat, Tapi, Bharuch, Narmada, Valsad and central districts of Vadodara, Dahod and Panchmahal bringing respite to people who had been reeling under hot and sultry weather since mid June after the first spell of he south-west monsoon.

The rains also comes as a boon for the farmers who have already done sowing in 4.4 million hectares across the state till July 1.

Last year during the same period sowing was done in mere 0.95 million hectare. Out of the total, food grain have been sown in 0.25 million hectare followed by pulses in 0.11 million hectare, oil seeds in 1.51 million hectare and other kharif crops like cotton, tobacco, gaur seed in remaining 2.51 million hectare.

According to the agriculture department area under sowing till date was 50 per cent of the average total area under sowing in the last three years.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rain with thundershowers in all districts of Gujarat and union territories of Diu, Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli in the coming 36 hours.

"Heavy to very heavy rains would occur at a few places with isolated extremely heavy falls over Gujarat region and in Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli during next 36 hours.

Heavy to very heavy rains would also occur at isolated places over Saurashtra during the same period," the IMD advisory said.

It has further warned the fishermen not to venture into the sea for fishing in the next 24 hours as the weather over Arabian sea would be rough with wind speed ranging between 35-45 kmph, which could reach upto 55 kmph.

Till Thursday morning rainfall recorded in various parts of the state include Umerpada (Surat) 260mm, Dabhoi (Vadodara) 140mm, Kadana (Panchmahal) 140mm, Tilakwada (Narmada) 130mm, Chhota Udepur (Vadodara) 100mm, Sankheda (Vadodara) 100mm, Rajpipla (Narmada) 90mm, Fatepura (Dahod) 90mm, Santrampur (Panchmahal) 90mm, Songadh (Tapi) 80mm, Nizer (Tapi) 80mm, Ukai (Surat) 80mm, Morva Hadaf (Panchmahal) 80mm and Sinor (Vadodara) 80mm.