Ahmedabad: Torrential rains lashed several parts of Gujarat on Monday, inundating roads, flooding underpasses, and throwing life out of gear, with the weather department issuing a red alert for eight districts, predicting more heavy showers.
Central Gujarat bore the brunt of the downpour, with Borsad taluka in Anand logging 138 mm and Dholka in Ahmedabad district recording 102 mm between 6 am and 2 pm, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.
Ahmedabad city recorded 84 mm of rain during the same eight-hour period, leaving low-lying residential areas inundated and severely affecting visibility for commuters. Knee-deep water stalled vehicles on major roads, creating flood-like conditions in several neighbourhoods.
Authorities have deployed 38 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams in vulnerable districts as a precautionary measure.
According to the SEOC, heavy overnight spells hit South Gujarat, where Kaprada in Valsad district received 113 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 6 am on Monday. Overall, the state has recorded 80.23 per cent of its seasonal average rainfall, with South Gujarat surpassing 110 per cent.
As many as 35 out of the state's 206 water reservoirs are on high alert, while warnings have been issued for 13 other water bodies, officials said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall for Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Devbhumi Dwarka. Weather conditions are expected to improve on Tuesday, with lighter spells anticipated along coastal districts.