Gujarat Cyclone: 24,000 Displaced, Army, NDRF Lead Rescue Ops, 1,700 Rescued- Latest Updates

Gujarat is struggling with severe weather conditions as heavy rainfall continues to impact the state, particularly in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for extremely heavy rainfall and rough sea conditions due to a deep depression that is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm. The cyclonic storm is likely on Friday as a result of a deep depression that has formed over the Arabian Sea near the Gujarat coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday. Despite a slight easing in rainfall, the state remains under a red alert as flood-like conditions persist in several districts.

Here are the key updates on rainfall in Gujarat and the current situation across the state:

1. Extreme Rainfall Forecast: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts extremely heavy rainfall in Saurashtra and Kutch regions tomorrow, as a deep depression near Bhuj is set to intensify into a cyclonic storm.
2. Affected Districts: Districts under heavy rainfall warnings include Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagarh, Dwarka, and Kutch. Sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough over the next two days.
3. Current Rainfall Data: Kutch has received 30 cm of rain and Dwarka 29 cm in the past 24 hours. Since June 1, Gujarat has recorded 852 mm of rain, significantly above the normal 577 mm.
4. Death Toll: The number of fatalities due to rain-related incidents in Gujarat has risen to 28 in recent days. A total of 17,800 people have been evacuated from areas severely affected by the flooding.
5. Flood-like Conditions: Despite a decrease in rainfall, flood-like conditions persist in Vadodara and other areas due to overflowing rivers. Ongoing rescue and relief efforts are in place.
6. Road and Bridge Damage: In Jamnagar, heavy rains have led to road closures and the washing away of a bridge segment, disrupting commuter movement.
7. Army Deployed: The Indian Army has been deployed to assist in rescue operations in the most severely affected areas, following a request from the Gujarat government.
8. Displaced Residents: Approximately 24,000 people have been relocated to shelter camps, and 1,700 more have been rescued from stranded locations.
9. Tourist Advisory: The Kutch district collector has advised residents and tourists to avoid tourist spots due to extremely heavy rainfall and a red alert issued by the IMD.
10. River Water Levels: The Vishwamitri river in Vadodara has seen a decrease in water levels from 37 feet to 32 feet, but remains above the danger mark.