Major highway damaged amid heavy rains, flood-like situation in western India
by Aditi VermaWestern India’s Gujarat relentless monsoon fury has caused significant damage, including the destruction of a portion of the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway, as heavy rains continue to wreak havoc.
The incident took place at the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway in Gujarat on August 27.
Visuals showed after continuous rainfall, a portion of the highway road had started to cave in, both inward and outward, creating a dangerous situation. Despite the risk, people were still driving across the remaining intact section of the road, trying to navigate through the hazardous conditions.
Amid the ongoing monsoon downpour, Gujarat’s Saurashtra region is facing severe disruptions, with the Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway being a notable casualty. A section of the highway was damaged due to relentless heavy rainfall, which has continued to lash the state over the past few days.
Authorities have dispatched JCB machines to clear the debris and reopen the highway, which remains blocked in several areas. The situation is dire in many districts, with flood-like conditions prevailing, particularly in low-lying regions. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that Dwarka taluka recorded 163 mm of rainfall within 12 hours, followed by Junagadh city and taluka with 133 mm, and Patan-Veraval in Gir Somnath district with 117 mm.
In response to the worsening situation, 10 NDRF teams have been deployed across the affected districts, actively conducting rescue and relief operations to evacuate stranded residents from inundated areas. The heavy rains have also led to the overflow of 16 reservoirs, with alerts issued for 36 more, including the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which is currently filled to 50-70% of its total capacity.
A persistent cyclonic circulation over Saurashtra and Kutch, extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level, is contributing to the ongoing extreme weather conditions.