Gujarat Flash Flood: Cars & Livestock Swept Away In Junagadh
The situation in Junagadh started flashing on TV channels and social media. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who was in Rajkot, cancelled his scheduled events and tried to reach Junagadh.
Cars and other vehicles floated like toys, and hundreds of people were left stranded as a flash flood caused by torrential rains inundated Junagadh City in Gujarat on Saturday. Videos and photos of the situation in Junagadh flooded TV channels and social media. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who was in Rajkot, cancelled his events and attempted to reach Junagadh.
Torrents of floodwaters gushed through Junagadh City, turning roads into swollen streams and sweeping away cars, bikes, and livestock. Between 10 am and 4 pm on Saturday, Junagadh experienced a pounding of nine inches of rain. In response to the crisis, the authorities deployed JCB excavators for rescue operations as the city roads went underwater.
The municipal commissioner of Bhavnagar, Ramesh Tanna, reported rescuing some 200 to 300 people from low-lying areas, while flooding affected various parts of the city due to the torrential rains that swelled Kalvo and Sonrakh rivers. The situation was particularly severe in the posh Raijibaug area, where Kalvo’s floodwaters spread into residential areas.
Junagadh Collector Anil Ranavasiya and Junagadh District Superintendent of Police Ravi Teja Vasamsetty issued fervent appeals for people to stay indoors, stating that most parts of the city were flooded. Junagadh City and Junagadh (rural) district experienced torrential rains throughout the day, leading to widespread flooding. Residents were urged to contact the control room if they required assistance.
The trouble began in the afternoon as floodwaters from rivers originating in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary started swelling due to heavy rains that began around 10 am. The intensity of the rain escalated significantly between 2 pm and 4 pm, resulting in over five inches of rain in the city and surrounding areas.
Municipal Commissioner Tanna explained that the gradient from Mount Girnar to Junagadh, along with rivers and streams originating from Girnar, contributed to the problems caused by the rains. However, no reports of human casualties were available at that time.
The worsening flood situation prompted Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to cancel his events in Rajkot and seek alternative ways to reach Junagadh. He had flown to Junagadh the day before for an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in the region.
The famous Sakkarbaug Zoo, located on the bank of the Sonrakh river, also faced flooding. Although some parts of the park were inundated, no harm to the captive animals was reported. As a precautionary measure, carnivores in their enclosures were shifted.
In light of the floods, fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea for the next five days until July 26. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) issued high wave warnings for certain coastal areas.
The forecast warned of high waves in the range of 3.5-4 meters along the Gujarat coast from Jakhau to Diu head, with varying sea current speeds between 61-123 cubic meters per second.
Summary
Flash flood caused by torrential rains inundated Junagadh City in Gujarat, leaving hundreds stranded and vehicles swept away. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel cancelled events to respond to the crisis. Torrents of floodwaters turned roads into streams, prompting rescue operations with JCB excavators. No human casualties were reported, and the Sakkarbaug Zoo faced flooding without harm to animals. Fishermen were warned to avoid the sea, and high wave warnings were issued for the Gujarat coast.
