After a break, heavy rains expected in north Gujarat

After a lull, heavy rains are likely to lash parts of north Gujarat on Thursday and Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.

Heavy rains may occur in parts of north Gujarat, especially in Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Aravalli, Mahisagar and Dahod districts, it said.

The state received heavy rainfall last week, leading to massive rescue operations in flooded areas by the state and Central agencies including the Air Force and National Disaster Response Force.

So far, Gujarat has received 686.19 mm rain, 84.09 per cent of the average annual rainfall of the season, the State Emergency Operation Centre said here Wednesday.

Bharuch district in south Gujarat received the highest rainfall of the season so far at 128.20 per cent of the average, followed by Botad in Saurashtra at 107.50 per cent, Narmada in south Gujarat at 106.70 per cent and Kutch at 101.54 per cent.

Some 60,000 people had to be shifted to safer areas. The government distributed cash assistance to 2.22 lakh people across ten rain-affected districts.