AHMEDABAD: At least 27 people lost their lives in Gujarat due to multiple lightning strikes during widespread unseasonal rainfall that battered the state, causing damage to homes and standing crops, officials reported on Monday.
The incidents of lightning-related fatalities occurred over a 24-hour period starting early Sunday morning.
The State Emergency Operation Centre(SEOC) confirmed that 27 people had succumbed to lightning strikes in various parts of Gujarat. The affected districts include Dahod, Tapi, Dangs, Amreli, Surendranagar, Botad, Mehsana, Kheda, Panchmahal,PatienceAhmedabad, Bharuch, and Devbhumi Dwarka. Lightning strikes also led to the loss of animals, and untimely rains accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms caused damage to houses and standing crops.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences to the families of the victims and acknowledged the relief efforts undertaken by the state administration. Gujarat Cabinet Minister Rushikesh Patel conveyed Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s concern over the untimely rainfall and its impact while the Chief Minister is currently on a trip to Japan.
Rushikesh Patel stated that nearly 60% of the state experienced showers ranging from 1 mm to 144 mm in the last two days, resulting in losses to kharif crops. The government plans to conduct a survey to assess the damage caused by the unseasonal downpour, hail, and lightning, ensuring that affected farmers receive appropriate compensation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted dry weather in the state from Tuesday onwards, with a subsequent drop in minimum temperatures by 4 to 5 degrees Celsius before a rise over the next 4 to 5 days. In the 12 hours till 6 pm on Monday, 27 talukas in Gujarat received 1 to 45 mm of rainfall, primarily in south Gujarat districts. This marked a significant reduction from the previous 24 hours when 236 talukas received precipitation up to 144 mm.
The untimely rains, attributed to a cyclonic circulation over the north-east Arabian Sea and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch regions, had widespread effects, causing damage to crops and disrupting industries like ceramics in the Morbi district.
(With agency inputs)
The incidents of lightning-related fatalities occurred over a 24-hour period starting early Sunday morning.
The State Emergency Operation Centre(SEOC) confirmed that 27 people had succumbed to lightning strikes in various parts of Gujarat. The affected districts include Dahod, Tapi, Dangs, Amreli, Surendranagar, Botad, Mehsana, Kheda, Panchmahal,PatienceAhmedabad, Bharuch, and Devbhumi Dwarka. Lightning strikes also led to the loss of animals, and untimely rains accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms caused damage to houses and standing crops.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences to the families of the victims and acknowledged the relief efforts undertaken by the state administration. Gujarat Cabinet Minister Rushikesh Patel conveyed Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s concern over the untimely rainfall and its impact while the Chief Minister is currently on a trip to Japan.
Rushikesh Patel stated that nearly 60% of the state experienced showers ranging from 1 mm to 144 mm in the last two days, resulting in losses to kharif crops. The government plans to conduct a survey to assess the damage caused by the unseasonal downpour, hail, and lightning, ensuring that affected farmers receive appropriate compensation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted dry weather in the state from Tuesday onwards, with a subsequent drop in minimum temperatures by 4 to 5 degrees Celsius before a rise over the next 4 to 5 days. In the 12 hours till 6 pm on Monday, 27 talukas in Gujarat received 1 to 45 mm of rainfall, primarily in south Gujarat districts. This marked a significant reduction from the previous 24 hours when 236 talukas received precipitation up to 144 mm.
The untimely rains, attributed to a cyclonic circulation over the north-east Arabian Sea and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch regions, had widespread effects, causing damage to crops and disrupting industries like ceramics in the Morbi district.
(With agency inputs)
