Gujarat: 20 killed in lightning strikes amid widespread unseasonal rainfall in several parts of state

The widespread unseasonal rainfall in Gujarat has killed as many as 20 people in several parts of the state so far, an official said on Monday. As per an official of the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), all the fatalities were caused by lightning strikes during unseasonal rainfall which battered the state on Sunday. 

Giving an account of fatalities, the SEOC officials said four people died in Dahod district, three in Bharuch, two in Tapi, and one each in Amreli, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Panchmahal, Devbhumi Dwarka, Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha, Surat, Botad, Kheda, and Surendranagar. 

Shah expresses condolences

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed condolences for the deaths caused by severe weather and lightning in several cities of the state, and stated that relief efforts were being carried out by the local administration. “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,” he wrote on X. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the rain is expected to abate on Monday. As per the SEOC data, as many as 234 out of 252 talukas of Gujarat received rainfall on Sunday, with Surat, Surendranagar, Kheda, Tapi, Bharuch and Amreli districts recording 50-117 mm rainfall in 16 hours, throwing normal life out of gear and causing crop damage.

Gujarat weather

Hailstorms hit some parts of Rajkot, while locals were seen rejoicing the scene created by the sudden showers. Apart from causing crop damage, the rainfall also affected the ceramic industry of Morbi district in Saurashtra region as factories were forced to remain shut, officials said.

IMD’s Ahmedabad centre director Manorama Mohanty said rains will abate on Monday and remain concentrated in some parts of south Gujarat and Saurashtra districts. The rains were being caused due to a cyclonic circulation lying over the northeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Saurashtra and Kutch regions, the IMD added in its bulletin.

(With inputs from PTI)

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