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The state of Gujarat in India has been grappling with the effects of heavy rainfall, leading to widespread disruptions and damage. Ahmedabad, the state's largest city, was particularly hard hit, experiencing waterlogged streets, flooding, and infrastructural damage. The city received over 86 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, ending at 6 am on Monday morning, totaling 3.50 inches of rain in a day. The heavy downpours led to a red alert being issued for the next two days, warning of more intense rainfall in the coming days.
The heavy rainfall has forced the closure of schools in Gujarat. The state education department has declared a holiday for all primary schools on Tuesday due to the heavy rain warning. In addition to the schools, train services have also been disrupted due to the flooding. The Ahmedabad-Vadodara Intercity Express, Vadodara-Ahmedabad Intercity Express, and Vadodara-Jamnagar Intercity Express have all been affected by the heavy rains and massive waterlogging.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed the heavy rainfall to a worsening weather system that is expected to bring more showers in the coming days, not just to Gujarat but also to other states. The highest rainfall recorded was in Morwa Hadaf, with 6.1 inches, followed by Anand with 5.4 inches. Over 44 talukas in the state have recorded over 2 inches of rain, and 82 talukas have received more than an inch of rain. Heavy rain continues in some areas of Aravalli, Mahisagar, Vadodara, Dahod, and Saurashtra in the central-southern region of the state. Hundreds of people were shifted to safety in Valsad and Navsari districts due to heavy rains that lashed south Gujarat on Saturday and Sunday. The incessant rains have inundated low-lying areas, disrupting normal life and traffic movement. Vapi taluka in Valsad district received 326 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period till 6 am on Sunday, the highest in the state, while Khergam in Navsari got 248 mm since 6 am. Districts like Surat, Tapi, and Narmada have also been severely affected by the heavy rains.
The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, has instructed officials to take all necessary steps to provide relief to people affected by the heavy rains. This includes timely evacuations to ensure the safety of both people and livestock. The State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF and NDRF) teams have been deployed and are available for assistance.