While Gujarat has experienced rain-related disasters before, significant rainstorms are not anticipated in the state during the winter months.
Twenty-four people have lost their lives due to lightning strikes, and approximately 23 individuals sustained injuries in rain-related incidents over the past two days in Gujarat, a western state in India.
The local government officials report ongoing rains on Monday morning, following heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and hailstorms that hit the state on Sunday and Monday. According to state government data, some areas received up to 144mm (5.7 inches) of rain in the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning.
The intense rains resulted in damage to houses and the loss of cattle across the state, with at least 40 animals reported dead. Gujarat’s Agriculture Minister, Raghavji Patel, announced plans for a survey to assess the extent of the losses, and compensation for victims will be determined based on the survey results.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts continued rainfall in parts of the state on Monday. Federal Home Minister Amit Shah, a native of Gujarat, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths in a social media post.
Gujarat has experienced rain-related calamities in the past, but such significant rainstorms are unexpected during the winter months, catching many residents off guard. In August 2020, the state witnessed 14 deaths in just two days due to heavy rains and flooding. A year earlier, in August 2019, 31 people lost their lives in rain-related incidents.
While flash floods and lightning incidents claim numerous lives in India annually, scientists emphasize that rising global temperatures contribute to an escalating series of extreme weather events.
