Published 09:07 IST, September 23rd 2019
Gujarat escapes heavy rainfall as depression moves towards Oman
The depression that formed over Gujarat has moved away and has now formed over the Arabian coast in the area which is east-central and northeast to the state
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released a statement on Sunday which came off as rather good news for Gujarat since the depression that formed over the state has moved away and has now formed over the Arabian coast in the area which is east-central and northeast to the state. The depression is likely to intensify over the next couple of days and is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours. The depression is also likely to move towards Oman.
Heavy rainfall averted
Gujarat has received very rainfall in the last two months, flood various regions in the state and causing massive losses to human life as well as property. The depression is likely to cause light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy falls is likely over coastal districts of Saurashtra and Kutch. It is expected to decrease thereafter. The region is likely to receive heavy rainfall but it spares the region and the state of extremely heavy rainfall. Information later shared by the IMD stated that deep depression intensified over the Arabian sea and its now a cyclone, which is named 'Hikka'. The cyclone is expected to hit Oman coast by September 25.
Suffering from flooding
In the release, the IMD had forecasted rains and had advised the fishermen to not venture out in the sea because of rough weather. Earlier this month, Gujarat government had put more than half of its dams on 'high alert'. The state had declared 114 of the 204 dams on red alert. This monsoon, Kutch received 42 percent more rains at 570 mm up from its normal average of 401 mm. The rainfall in Saurashtra was recorded at 746 mm, which is about 13 percent more than its Long Period Average (LPA) of 663 mm. Other regions of Gujarat also received heavy rainfall, with the city of Vadodara flooding in early August. The heavy rainfall also caused Vishwamitri river to overflow. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams rescued 594 people. Around the country, heavy rainfalls have caused massive floods. Mumbai witnessed multiple instances of flooding and so did multiple areas in Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Orrisa etc.
Updated 11:12 IST, September 23rd 2019