Gandhinagar, Jul 1 (IANS): With weather forecast indicating a good monsoon this year, Gujarat has received almost 16% of its annual average rainfall in the past couple of days amid the gloom spread by the coronavirus crisis.
A major beneficiary of the rain god's benevolence is Saurashtra region, which has received over 25% of its average. The India Meteorological Department has predicted moderate to heavy rain in the next 2-3 days in many parts of Gujarat.
After Gujarat's 15.80% of its average annual rainfall (831 mm), the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said almost all parts of Gujarat had benefited from 131.33 mm rain till now in this season. Out of 251 Talukas (Tehsils) 18 have received more than 251 mm of rain, 102 blocks between 126 mm and 250 mm, 100 Talukas between 51mm and 125 mm and 31 blocks with less than 50 mm.
The farmers of Saurashtra are a happy lot, as the rains have not only been timely but also looks promising in coming weeks. Saurashtra,with an average of 677 mm rainfall, have so far received 172mm, that is 25.35%, whereas the maximum has been in Porbandar district at 236 mm, or 33.85% of its annual average of 698 mm.
The eastern and central parts of the state ahve received 121 mm of the total rainfall this year, which is 14.72% of its annual average of 819 mm. Kheda district has received the maximum 152 mm, which is 18.34% of its average 828 mm.
South Gujarat records the maximum rainfall in the entire state. The average annual rainfall in this area is 1,447 mm, of which it has received only 135 mm or just 9.32%. However, Dang, the district which records maximum rainfall in the state, has received 11.05% of its average of 2,377 mm rain, with Subir block receiving the highest 94 mm rainfall in the state during the last 24 hours.
In the last 24 hours, Gujarat received 9.09 mm (state average) rainfall, with a maximum in Subir Taluka, followed by Kalavad (Jamnagar) 73 mm, Veraval (Gir-Somnath) 57mm, Dhrol (Jamnagar) 48mm, Halol (Panchmahals) 48mm, Mendarda (Junagadh) 47mm, Modasa (Aravalli) 46mm, Vadiya (Amreli) 45mm, Ahwa (Dang) 45mm, Sutrapada (Gir-Somnath) 44mm, Gir Gadhada (Gir-Somnath) 42mm, Becharaji (Mehsana) 40mm, Lodhika (Rajkot) 40mm and Jesar (Bhavnagar) 40mm.
Due to heavy rains in Gujarat and neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, water level in the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river has reached 1222.26 feet. The authorities had to open the sluices to allow release of water -- an outflow of 1324.78 cumec against an inflow of 827.68 cumec.