Ahmedabad: Saurashtra region on Sunday witnessed the wettest day of this monsoon as districts like Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Amreli, Devbhoomi Dwarka received heavy rainfall on Sunday.
Khambhalia tehsil in Devbhoomi Dwarka district received as much as 434 mm rainfall during the day, 292 mm between 6 and 8 pm alone, which led to major water-logging, officials said.
The Ahmedabad Centre of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Saurashtra, north and south Gujarat over the next three days. Ranavav in Porbandar received 152 mm rainfall, Porbandar 120 mm, Sutrapada in Gir Somnath 103 mm, Chikhli in Navsari 99 mm, and Pardi in Valsad received 98 mm rainfall from morning till 8 pm Sunday.
The water level of Shetrunji river in Junagadh has risen following incessant rainfall in the region.
READ: Heavy Saurashtra rains: Van swept away, man feared drowned
"Under the influence of low-pressure area over Kutch & neighbourhood, widespread rainfall activity likely over Gujarat State during the next 3 days and decrease thereafter. Isolated heavy to very falls with extremely heavy falls very likely over Saurashtra & Kutch during next 2 days and isolated heavy to very heavy falls thereafter. Isolated heavy to very heavy falls also very likely over Gujarat region during next 2-3 days," IMD said in its bulletin.
A farmer was killed in a lightning strike in Surendranagar district on Sunday, while one person was feared drowned after a pickup van he was travelling in was swept away in a strong current of water following the downpour, police said.
"A 33-year-old farmer, identified as Vikram Natubhai, died after lightning struck him when he was working at his farm at Umarda village of Surendranagar district," a police official said.
An Aji Dam police station official said that a pickup carrying three persons was swept away in a strong current of water in Khokhardar river near Rajkot Sunday afternoon.
READ: Gujarat: Two men washed away along with mini-truck in flash floods
"The van was trying to cross a bridge over the river when it was swept away in overflowing water rushing with a strong current. While two persons managed to escape from the van, a third one was swept away along with the van and he is yet to be traced," the official said.
The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), has asked the local administrations to remain alert in view of the heavy rainfall warning.
Inputs from Agencies
