Current Alerts and Affected Areas

Morning bulletins from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) show Gujarat under a weather onslaught that could last until Friday. The agency slapped a red alert on three districts—Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Aravalli—signaling rain so intense it could cripple roads and power lines. In parallel, an orange alert spreads across 21 districts, a mix of big cities and rural zones where heavy to very heavy rain is now the norm.

Among the orange‑alerted areas are Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara and Surat, each seeing relentless showers since early dawn. Other districts on the list include Kutch, Surendranagar, Patan, Mehsana, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Bharuch, Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Tapi, Navsari, Dang, Valsad, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman. Below is a quick glance at the orange‑alert roster:

• Ahmedabad
• Gandhinagar
• Vadodara
• Surat
• Kutch
• Surendranagar
• Patan
• Mehsana
• Kheda
• Anand
• Panchmahal
• Bharuch
• Dahod
• Chhota Udepur
• Narmada
• Tapi
• Navsari
• Dang
• Valsad
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli
• Daman

Rainfall intensity spikes in the central and southern belt, with districts like Dahod, Mahisagar, Chhota Udepur, Navsari and Valsad slated for the heaviest downpours. In Ahmedabad’s bustling Maninagar suburb, a single hour between 7 pm and 8 pm dumped more than 66 mm, pushing the daily total to 71.5 mm—a figure that feels more like a storm surge than a city rain.

Impact on Water Resources and Local Response

While the torrents bring immediate disruption, they also refill Gujarat’s thirsty reservoirs. The Sardar Sarovar Dam now sits at 85 % capacity, and 206 major water bodies across the state average 78.5 % fullness. Seventy of those reservoirs are already brimming to the top, and another 72 sit above the 70 % mark, giving the region a solid cushion for the dry months ahead.

Season‑long numbers paint a vivid picture: by late August, Gujarat has logged 84 % of its expected monsoon rain. In just the first 24 days of the month, 21 % of the seasonal total fell, with a third of that arriving in the last week alone. North Gujarat leads the charge at 87 % of its quota, followed closely by South Gujarat at 86 %, Kutch at 85 %, Saurashtra at 83.5 % and east‑central areas at 79 %.

Authorities are on high alert. The IMD urges residents to avoid non‑essential travel, especially during peak downpour windows. Local governments have mobilized emergency crews, set up temporary shelters, and are monitoring low‑lying roads for waterlogging. If you’re inside the orange‑alert zone, keep an eye on updates and have a basic kit ready—flashlight, bottled water, and any essential meds.

All told, the current spell of Gujarat heavy rainfall underscores the dual nature of monsoon season: a life‑saving water source that can quickly become a threat. Staying informed and prepared is the best way to ride it out until the clouds finally give way.