North Gujarat experienced a respite from heavy rains as the deep depression that lashed the region for the past 36 hours weakened. The depression, classified as a category 4 out of 9 on the storm scale, entered Sabarkantha from Rajasthan on Monday afternoon. It moved through North Gujarat, affecting areas like Idar, Vadnagar, Unjha, Patan, and Radhanpur, before continuing towards Kachchh. During its passage, the storm caused widespread rainfall, with 23 talukas receiving over 4 inches of rain, with Meghraj reporting the highest at 9 inches. This widespread rainfall has brought much-needed relief from drought conditions, with 11 talukas in the region receiving over 100% of their seasonal rainfall. However, the storm also caused damage, including 189 power poles being downed in North Gujarat, with 116 of them in Aravalli district alone. The storm also disrupted transportation, with 164 ST bus trips on 79 routes being canceled, resulting in a loss of ₹3.10 lakhs. The Gujarat government has declared schools in the affected areas closed on Wednesday, but will reopen them on Thursday. While the immediate threat from the depression has passed, the weather department predicts a new round of rainfall in the first week of September, as a new low-pressure system forms over the Bay of Bengal and moves towards North Gujarat. However, this system is not expected to bring widespread rainfall.
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