A flood-like situation has arisen in many parts of Bharuch district in Gujarat after the swelling of the river Narmada. Bharuch’s district collector MD Modiya has asserted that thousands of stranded people from 23 villages have been taken to safer locations. Apart from this, two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and one State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) team are on standby in Bharuch. Also, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red-level warning for Bharuch and Surat for Wednesday.  

Observations by IMD

According to the IMD, the Gujarat region has received excessive rainfall on Thursday. As per the data on Southwest monsoon, Gujarat has received 1052.1 mm of rainfall this season which is more than normal for the meteorological subdivision during this period. The data also shows that there exists a 29% positive departure from normal for the current monsoon season. A prevailing cyclonic circulation also exists over the northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch region. IMD has also issued a red-level warning for Bharuch and Surat for Wednesday. Orange level warnings were issued for other parts of the state like Anand, Baroda, Narmada, Dangs, Navsari, Valsad and Tapi. 

Read: Mumbai Rains: A list of 7 amphibious cars that can be driven in water

Forecast 

IMD’s five-day forecast for Bharuch shows that the district is likely to receive the highest rainfall of about 24mm on Saturday and 15 mm on September 13, Friday. The ongoing rainfall in Bharuch is likely to subside by Tuesday, September 17. The other areas in the Gujarat region are likely to receive fairly widespread and scattered rainfall for the next few days. The minimum and maximum temperatures in these five days are likely to range between 25 to 32-degree Celsius, while the relative humidity will also be high. The following table also shows the data on cloud cover and wind speed as well. 

Read: Sardar Sarovar Dam overflows, 3000 people evacuated as a precaution

Read: Gujarat reduces Motor Vehicles Act fines for first-time offenders

Read: IMD predicts torrential rainfall in isolated pockets of Gujarat