Lightning strikes claim 20 lives in Gujarat amidst unseasonal rainfall
Eight individuals tragically lost their lives yesterday, as Gujarat was faced with extensive unexpected rain paired with thunderstorms.
A tragic loss of 20 lives across different parts of Gujarat was reported due to lightning strikes amidst unexpected showers. The fatalities are dishearteningly spread across the region. We have reports of four casualties in Dahod district, three in Bharuch, two in Tapi, and one each in Ahmedabad, Amreli, Banaskantha, Botad, Kheda, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Sabarkantha, Surat, Surendranagar, and Devbhumi Dwarka. This information comes from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
Eight individuals tragically lost their lives yesterday, as Gujarat was faced with extensive unexpected rain paired with thunderstorms.
Multiple Fatalities
The losses include an unfortunate 22-year-old biker from Botad taluka, who met his untimely end as he got struck by lightning. A 29-year-old man also tragically passed away in Mehsana district after a tree struck an autorickshaw. In addition to these incidents, lightning took the lives of two farmers in Tapi district, and one person each in Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, and Dahod districts. The livestock community also suffered, with reports of cattle and sheep killed in certain areas.
Extent of Rainfall in Gujarat
As per PTI, 220 of the 251 talukas in Gujarat received up to 50mm of rainfall over ten hours on Sunday, starting at 6 am. The city of Ahmedabad itself received 15 mm of rainfall yesterday.
Reasons for Unseaosnal Rainfall and Future Weather Update
The unexpected downpours were triggered by a cyclonic circulation hovering over the northeast Arabian Sea, along with the adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch regions, clarified the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD also offers a sigh of relief predicting the rainfall should ease up come Monday, though still predicting some rainfall in parts of south Gujarat and the Saurashtra districts.
Alerts Issued for Neighboring Regions
The IMD has also issued a rainfall alert for early Monday in various regions of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and southwest Madhya Pradesh. Light to moderate rainfall is also anticipated in isolated areas of Punjab, Haryana, West Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.
Condolences from Union Home Minister
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of many people due to bad weather and lightning in various cities of Gujarat. I express my deepest condolences for the irreparable loss to those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. The local administration is engaged in relief work, praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Mr Shah wrote in Gujarati.
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