Nine people died in Gujarat as thunderstorm and hailstorm lashed the state, which was brought by a cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan, government officials said. India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said that this summer, the state has received 34. 7 mm rains so far, which is about 10 times higher than normal. Major rainfall was caused by seven western disturbances and cyclonic circulations experienced by the state between March 1 and May 29, which is also much higher than normal.
Districts with two fatalities each were Patan and Kheda, and districts with one death each were Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Banaskantha, Chhota Udepur, and Botad. Lightning and heavy rains, according to officials, were the main causes of the deaths.
The places which received the highest rainfall are -Becharaji 65 mm, Danta 55 mm, Ahmedabad 54 mm, Vadgam 52 mm and Chanasma 50 mm among others. There had been 1 mm or more of rain in 91 talukas overall. Hailstorms that dumped hailstones the size of huge pebbles on Ahmedabad city and other areas of the state, including districts in north Gujarat, were recorded.
Manorama Mohanty, head of the India Meteorological Department Gujarat, said, “The rains are caused by subsequent spells of western disturbance and cyclonic circulations. This season is normal for western disturbance, but if we talk about the year in the past decade, it would reach Gujarat at the end of May or beginning of June. Instead, this year we have recorded an average three spells of western disturbances for the past three months that have brought substantial rainfall.”