Though late, rain Gods finally bless state

Heavy rains continued to lash major parts of the state for the second consecutive day, bringing respite to the state reeling under almost drought-like condition since more than a month.

Spells of rainfall resulting from low-pressure formation that had caught people unawares on Saturday continued almost unabated throughout the state on Sunday.

Rajpipla received as much as 500 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours followed by Jalalpur that received 172 mm, Navsari, Talaja and Una, all received 150 mm, Kaprada, 141 mm, Vansda, 138 mm and Rajula recieved 127 mm rainfall during the period. Dorasa and Girghadara in Junagadh district received 125 mm each while Babra, Mahudha and Bhavnagar, received 100 mm rainfall each. Surendranagar and Kutch however, received scanty rainfall during the period.

Khodiyar and Rajavar dams in Bhavnagar were reported to be overflowing while Setrunji dam in Bhavnagar is likely to overflow too, informed officials of the flood control department.

One death was reported due to electrocution from Thunadra village of Thasra taluka, Kheda on Sunday. Another death of a 23-year-old youth due to drowning was reported from Shinor taluka.

According to the meteorological department, parched lands of South Gujarat and coastal Saurashtra would continue to receive "very good" rainfall during the next 24 hours while areas of North Gujarat would receive moderate rain showers. Ahmedabad is likely to receive few spells of rain or thundershowers that could be heavy at times during the next 24 hours, they informed.

Meanwhile, the rainfall figures across the state on Sunday revealed that almost the entire state received substantially good rainfall during the last 24 hours. It rained 14 mm in Amreli, 23 mm in Ranpur, 55 mm in Khambha, 30 mm in Umreth, 44 mm in Petlad, 35 mm in Tarapur, 76 mm in Kheda, 28 mm in Patan, 19 mm in Radhanpur, 16 mm in Gondal, 25 mm in Jasdan, 88 mm in Valsad and 43 mm in Umargaon during the period. Other areas where it rained reasonably adequate include Mohua that received 97 mm rainfall, Talaja and Sabarkundla, both with 75 mm, Palitana with 112 mm, Dahod with 48 mm, Junagadh with 75 mm, Kesod with 65 mm, Talala with 55 mm and Gandevi with 93 mm. Ahmedabad received 25 mm rain during the last 24 hours.

According to information from officials concerned, North Gujarat has received its share of rain during the last 24 hours and would receive only moderate rainfall in the next 24 hours. South Gujarat and coastal Saurashtra are likely to receive heavy showers during that period, observed director of the meteorological department at Ahmedabad Dr. R.K. Kankane on Sunday.

He informed that the rainfall has resulted due to low-pressure formation over the Bay of Bengal. The low-pressure has travelled from that region to Orissa and taken its course to Rajasthan via Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Vidharbha, and Gujarat, thereby showering rains to these states. "Currently, it is stationed at West Madhya Pradesh," he informed.

Republished from The Asian Age