Four people were killed in flooding and rain-related incidents in the last 48 hours in southern Gujarat. Floods in several districts and towns, affected road and rail traffic.
The State administration has put the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies on stand by to attend to emergencies.
“For next 48 hours: Heavy to very heavy rain is forecasted in Saurashtra - mainly in Amreli, Bhavnagar, Girsonath, Botad and Rajkot,and North Gujarat region . Flood management plan into action,” Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue), said in a tweet.
A holiday has been declared in schools and other education institutions in the affected districts.
Thousands stranded in railway stations
Thousands of people were stranded in railway stations as almost a dozen trains from to and from Mumbai were delayed due to incessant rains in Mumbai and adjoining south Gujarat districts.
In Navsari, Vadodara, and Surat cities, low-lying areas have been flooded and the civic bodies launched rescue operations.
According to officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD), owing to a cyclonic circulation over north Konkan and south Gujarat, the coastal belt in Saurashtra and south Gujarat will continue to receive heavy to very heavy rains in the next 24 hours.
The Southwest monsoon has covered southern and central Gujarat, and parts of coastal Saurashtra region so far.
