Valsad wettest as rains pummel south Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Rains lashed south Gujarat region on Sunday with Valsad district receiving the highest rainfall at 194 mm in the last 24 hours ended this morning.

The heavy downpours triggered a flash flood in Darotha river leaving 15 persons stranded near Bhilod village, who were later rescued.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the 194 mm rainfall in Valsad district was the highest in the state.

Valsad district collector C R Kharsan said that 15 persons who were trapped in the low-lying area near Bhilad village were rescued by a team from Umargam taluka mamlatdar office.

"Due to heavy rains, water level in the low-lying area near Bhilad village rose sharply leaving 15 residents of the area trapped. Normally, water of Darotha river flows into the Arabian sea but heavy rains caused the river to swell. We carried out a rescue operation to safely evacuate the stranded people," Kharsan said.

Taluka-wise, Vapi taluka in Valsad district received the highest rainfall at 480 mm during the last 24 hours, followed by Valsad, Pardi, Umargam and Kaprada talukas which received the rainfall at 200 mm, 170 mm, 150 mm and 130 mm, respectively, as per Met department.

Silvassa in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman in the union territory of Daman and Diu also received heavy rainfall at 380 mm and 370 mm, respectively, the data showed.
Several areas in Dangs, Navsari, Surat, Narmada and Bharuch districts in south Gujarat were also lashed by heavy rains.

Showers were also received at some places in Saurashtra region and in isolated places in north Gujarat.

The Met department has forecast "heavy to very heavy rainfall" in south Gujarat region in the next five days.

"Yesterday's offshore trough at mean sea level from south Gujarat coast to Kerala coast persists. Yesterday's upper air cyclone circulation over south east Rajasthan and neighbourhood from 5.8 and 7.6 km persists," as per the Met data.