The monsoon depression lying earlier over Southwest Rajasthan has moved west-southwest and is centred close to Bhuj, in the Kutch region. The weather system has battered nearly all parts of Gujarat for the last 5 days, in a staggered manner. After ravaging eastern and central parts of Gujarat from the 24th to 26th of August, the monsoon fury shifted to Saurashtra & Kutch between the 26th and 28th Aug and continues, till now. The ferocity of the weather has now predominantly shifted to Saurashtra & Kutch. In that too, the coastal towns around either edge of the Gulf of Kutch have nearly been ruined. The southern edge of the gulf from Morbi, Jamnagar, Khambaliya, Rajkot, Dwarka, Okha and Porbandar have suffered catastrophic damage. The northern side from Kandla, Bhuj, Mandvi, Naliya and Lakhpat also have recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The deep depression is moving west-southwestward, slowly. The proximity of the Arabian Sea will sustain the moisture level and energy of the system, for the next 48 hours. Extreme western parts of Saurashtra and Kutch will remain at risk of deluge for the next two days. The depression will enter the Northeast Arabian Sea and the adjacent coastline of Pakistan on 30th Aug 2024. That is the time when weather activity will start easing out from these parts of Gujarat. Nearly, the complete state will come in for a big relief from 30th August onwards.
With the widespread and persistent, heavy to very heavy rains, nearly all the water bodies are full, beyond their capacity utilization. The main rivers, Narmada and Sabarmati and the dams have reached close to the permissible holding limit. Approximately 200 reservoirs and water bodies, small and big, spread over an area of nearly 3 lac hectares have reached the risk of overflowing. Though the rains have eased out over deep inland parts of the state and are also likely to recede from Saurashtra and Kutch, shortly, the water bodies keep responding even after the cessation of rains. The water flow from the catchment areas and the opening of gates of dams to maintain safe levels, continue to pose a threat of excess water inundating roads, tracks and fields for the next few days. Utmost caution needs to be exercised to minimize damage to the life and infrastructure till the end of this week.
Image Courtesy: The Hindu