Several parts of Gujarat receive 15% below average rainfall this monsoon, shows data

The Southwest monsoon arrived in Gujarat on June 11, four days ahead of its normal arrival, on June 15. In 2023, it marked its onset on June 25, nearly 10 days later than its normal onset owing to Cyclone Biparjoy that had hit Gujarat.

Among 33 districts, Devbhoomi Dwarka has received the highest of 50.85 per cent rainfall followed by Junagadh 46.18 per cent, both in the Saurashtra region.

On the other hand, Anand has recorded the lowest of 11.08 per cent. Other districts with the least rainfall – less than 15 per cent – are Dahod 11.20 per cent, Aravalli 11.46 per cent, Patan 12.5 per cent, Mahisagar 13.96 per cent, Surendranagar 14.5 per cent and Sabarkantha 14.99 per cent.

However, among 251 talukas, Khambhalia in Devbhoomi Dwarka has recorded the highest of 78.18 per cent average rainfall. Another taluka of Dwarka in the same district has recorded the second highest average rainfall of 58.26 per cent, this monsoon season.

Out of 251 talukas, 22 have received rainfall between 501 to 1000 mm. In the month of June 115 mm rainfall has been recorded while in July, so far, 88.15 mm rainfall has been received in the state.

Following Devbhoomi Dwarka, six talukas in Junagadh district alone has received more than 50 per cent average rainfall. These include Vanthali (57.75 per cent), Visavadar 55.65 per cent, Manavadar 54.04 per cent, Junagadh city 52.62 per cent and Mendrada 51.02 per cent rainfall.

Similarly, Babra – the only taluka in Amreli district that has received above 50 per cent rainfall – has received 52.5 per cent average rainfall. Gariadhar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar have inched 56.07 and 50.74 per cent, respectively.

In the southern district, Olpad in Surat is the only taluka to have crossed 50 per cent with 53.39 per cent rainfall.

Mundra and Mandvi, both in Kutch district, received 54.43 and 41.23 per cent, respectively whereas the district has recorded 25.63 per cent rainfall.

On the other hand there are several talukas that have not crossed the single digit mark of average rainfall, so far. Bhabhar in Banaskantha district has not received even 1 per cent of the average rainfall. As on Sunday, it has recorded 0.76 per cent. Another taluka in the district – Amirgadh has received 7.92 per cent.

Others include Lakhpat (4.43 per cent) in Kutch, Harij (3.35 per cent), Radhanpur (5.36 per cent), Sami (7.22 per cent) and Shankeshwar (7.5 per cent), all in Patan district.

Similarly, Malpur (5.53 per cent) and Bayad (7.88 per cent) in Aravalli, Vijaynagar (7.87 per cent) in Sabarkantha, Kheralu (6 per cent) and Unjha (9.88 per cent) in Mehsana, Khambhat (4.83 per cent), Sojitra (8.61 per cent), and Tarapur (9.65 per cent) in Anand, Jetpur Pavi (9 per cent) in Chhota Udepur, Godhra (9.35 per cent) in Panchmahal, Lunawada (9.24 per cent) in Mahisagar district, Devgadbharia (8.07 per cent), Fatepura (9.65 per cent), Garbada (9.8 per cent), Limkheda (8.82 per cent) in Dahod district, Savli (6.62 per cent) in Vadodara, Lakhtar (7.91 per cent), Limbdi (7.5 per cent), Muli (7.2 per cent) and Thangadh (9.94 per cent) and Maliya Maliya (6.72 per cent) in Morbi district are the least recorded rainfall talukas of the state.

For the week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall warning for only July 9 in the districts of Aravalli, Panchmahal, Dahod, Mahisagar, Surat, Navsari and Valsad.

BOX

Rainfall received in the 5 zones (source SEOC, Gandhinagar)

Gujarat-23.01%

Saurashtra-30.21%

South Gujarat-26.64%

Kutch-25.63%

North Gujarat-15.70%

East Central-15.01%

5 districts with highest rainfall

Devbhoomi Dwarka 50.85%

Junagadh 46.18%

Bhavnagar 33.6%

Surat 32.47%

Porbandar 31.58%

5 districts with lowest rainfall

Anand 11.08%

Dahod 11.2%

Aravalli 11.46%

Patan 12.5%

Mahisagar 13.96%