Intense rainfall over north India from Jul 18-21: IMD
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted intense rainfall activity over north India from July 18-21 and over the west coast till July 23.
The IMD said moderate to severe thunderstorms with lightning are very likely at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and east Rajasthan during the next 24 hours.
"They may cause injuries leading to casualties to people and animals staying outdoor," the MeT department cautioned.
The IMD said rainfall activity is very likely to increase with widespread rainfall to isolated heavy to very heavy rains very likely over the western Himalayan region (Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan and Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) and adjoining northwest India -- Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and north Madhya Pradesh -- from July 18 to 21.
There will be decrease in rainfall activity over the same regions thereafter.
Isolated, extreme heavy rainfall is also very likely over Uttarakhand on July 18 and 19 and over northwestern parts of UP on July 19.
Moderate to heavy rainfall at isolated places are also very likely over Delhi and Chandigarh on July 18 and 19.
Western and southern India is also expected to receive heavy rains.
Widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rains are very likely to continue over the western coast and adjoining inland areas during the next 5-6 days.
Meanwhile, heavy rains pounded parts of south Gujarat on Sunday, throwing normal live out of gear and causing water-logging at a number of places in Valsad, Vapi and Navsari.
"A cyclonic circulation lies over the south Gujarat region and neighbourhood at 2.1 km above the mean sea level," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, and predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region till Tuesday morning.
It also asked fishermen not to venture into the Arabian Sea till July 21.
Low-lying areas in Vapi and Umargam in Valsad district were flooded, with underpasses and roads overflowing, affecting traffic movement.
Several markets and residential areas were also inundated in Valsad and Vapi.
Besides, Gandevi, Khergam and Chikhli talukas in Navsari district and Kamrej and Bardoli in Surat district in the south Gujarat also received heavy rainfall.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Vapi taluka in Valsad district received 226 mm rainfall in six hours from 6 am, while Umargam received 232 mm rainfall during the period.
The Valsad taluka received 143 mm rainfall and Jalalpor got 146 mm rainfall during the period, officials of the SEOC said.
Besides, the Navsari taluka got 120 mm rainfall, Gandevi in Navsari received 119 mm rain, while Kamrej in Surat district got 118 mm rainfall during the period.
As per Valsad Additional Collector N A Rajput, the district's Umargam, Valsad and Vapi taluka received very heavy rainfall since morning.
"Our teams are posted in the field in low-lying areas. The rainfall has stopped now and water has started receding in many areas. Fire brigade teams are also deployed at strategic locations to help the affected people as and when required," he said.
According to the (IMD), Gujarat has so far recorded a rainfall deficit of 36 per cent.
Till Saturday the state received 21.69 per cent of annual average rainfall this monsoon, it said.
Out of the state's 33 districts, only five have received normal rainfall so far, while 26 have received deficient rainfall and two have recorded 'large deficiency', the IMD said.
In a separate release, the IMD asked fishermen not to venture out into the Arabian Sea along the north and south Gujarat coasts till July 21, due to "active monsoon conditions" that create squally weather conditions, with wind speed gust likely to reach 60 kmph, even if temporarily.
