The met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places over Gujarat, even as the monsoon Gods unleashed their fury over Saurashtra and Kutch.
Heavy rain has also been predicted for Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli during the next 24 hours. The administration in the whole of south Gujarat has been directed to remain alert as heavy rains have been predicted in the next 24 hrs.
But, Ahmedabad and neighbouring areas will have to settle for a few spells of rain. On Saturday, the sky remained overcast but the city did not get much rain.
Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed Surat-Navsari and Tapi even as it gave a miss to Valsad and Dangs. According to officials of the flood control department, heavy rains lashed Surat city and district during the last 24 hours.
Two inch rainfall was recorded in Surat city on Saturday, most of it between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm. The rains kept away for the rest of the day but a pleasant weather prevailed in the city following the rains.
Among rural areas, Umarpada received nine inch rains in past 24 hours. Mahuva received 4.5 inch, while Kamrej and Mandvi received just below 4 inch of rain.
The water level in Ukai dam, the lifeline of South Gujarat, rose from 294.5 feet on Friday to 295 feet. State control room on Saturday said some 111 talukas in 23 districts registered scattered rain. The highest rainfall was registered in Umarpada in Surat which received 1490 mm of rain. The death toll due to monsoon has touched 61, said officials.
The met department has warned of heavy to very heavy rain at few places over Saurashtra, Kutch and Diu during the next 24 hours apart from showers over isolated places in Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli. Met department has also warned fishermen in the southern and northern coast not to venture out into the sea. Met department said that due to the vigorous monsoon conditions, stormy weather is likely to prevail along areas off north Gujarat coast.
While rainfall has properly arrived in other places of south Gujarat, it is yet to do so in tribal-dominated Tapi. This has got local farmers worried. The rainfall in Dangs, one of the most backward districts in the country, has also been inadequate so far, with Saturday seeing no rain.
With inputs from the Ahmedabad and Surat bureaus
