South Gujarat Reels Under Torrential Rain, Valsad Gets 8 Inches

SURAT :  South Gujarat remained on high alert on Wednesday as relentless monsoon showers triggered flooding across several districts, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall. With Valsad recording nearly 8 inches of rain by the afternoon, normal life was severely disrupted across the region.

According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, rainfall was recorded in 104 talukas between 6 am and 2 pm. Besides Valsad’s 8 inches, Umargam received 6.61 inches, while Pardi recorded 6.54 inches, making them among the worst-hit areas.

In Surat, the overflowing Bhedawad creek inundated several low-lying areas, leading to waterlogging on roads and in residential localities. As a precautionary measure, authorities declared a holiday for schools to ensure the safety of students.

The heavy downpour also affected Navsari, where the Kaveri River at Chikhli began flowing bank-to-bank following intense rainfall in the upper catchment areas, raising concerns about flooding in nearby villages.

The IMD has warned that Navsari and Valsad are likely to witness very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall during the day. Surat, Dang, Tapi, Daman, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli are also expected to receive very heavy rain. The weather office has further forecast heavy rainfall in parts of Bharuch, Narmada, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Dahod, Panchmahal, and several districts of Saurashtra, including Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath and Botad.

“Extremely heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in South Gujarat. Residents should avoid unnecessary travel and follow official advisories,” the IMD said.

The department has also warned of lightning and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph in several areas.

The IMD expects the wet spell to continue over the next seven days, with widespread rain likely across South Gujarat and North Gujarat until July 24, keeping disaster management teams and local authorities on alert.