The southwest monsoon arrived in Gujarat a week ahead of schedule this year, yet rainfall distribution across the state over the past month and a half has been highly uneven.
In the last 24 hours alone, 90 talukas recorded rainfall, with Jalalpore in Navsari district receiving the highest at 5.24 inches. Navsari city saw 4.25 inches, while Mahuva in Surat and Gandevi in Navsari recorded 2.20 and 2.13 inches, respectively. In total, 11 talukas received over 1 inch of rainfall, while 79 talukas reported less than an inch.
As of now, Gujarat has received 54% of its seasonal average rainfall—roughly 19 inches. However, stark regional disparities remain.
Kutch has performed slightly better with 64% of its seasonal average, while central and eastern Gujarat have received just 51%. Saurashtra’s 11 districts have together received about 16 inches of rain, accounting for 53.48% of their seasonal norm.
At the district level, variations are even more pronounced. Bhavnagar has received 80% of its seasonal quota, while Patan has seen only 34%, underscoring the inconsistency of rainfall across the state. While some areas report satisfactory rain, others continue to await a more uniform monsoon.
The monsoon officially entered Gujarat on June 17 this year.
From 2020 to 2023, Gujarat experienced significant fluctuations in monsoon rainfall. In 2020, the state recorded 1,091.7 mm—58% above normal—with Kutch and Saurashtra witnessing particularly heavy rainfall. Devbhumi Dwarka recorded an unprecedented 2,132 mm, which was 325% above the seasonal average.
In 2021, parts of Saurashtra faced severe flooding in September, leading to extensive damage, highlighting the hazards of intense, localized rainfall.
The following years, including 2022, brought average to slightly below-average rainfall, though detailed figures are limited. By 2023, rainfall trends shifted sharply: 12 of Gujarat’s 33 districts recorded more than a 50% increase in seasonal rainfall compared to the 2014–2023 average. Devbhumi Dwarka saw rainfall more than double (up 135%), while other regions like Porbandar, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Tapi also experienced substantial increases. Only Sabarkantha saw a marginal decline of 5%.
These shifting patterns reflect Gujarat’s increasing susceptibility to uneven and intense monsoon seasons—excessive rainfall in some districts countered by deficits in others—posing heightened flood risks and agricultural challenges statewide.
(IANS)