Ahmedabad: At least 14 persons have died in rain-related incidents as thunderstorms, along with strong winds and dust storms, battered several parts of Gujarat, officials said on Tuesday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds of up to 50-60 kmph across the state for the next few days.
As many as 168 out of 253 talukas in the state received unseasonal rains in the last 24 hours, with Kheda, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, and Vadodara districts getting 25 to 40 mm rains, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said in its update.
The weather forecaster has forecast more rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across Gujarat until Thursday.
Local officials told Reuters that 14 people were killed and 16 were injured so far.
“We are awaiting reports on crop damage,” said Anju Sharma, secretary of the state’s agriculture department. Gujarat is a major producer of cotton, cumin and rice.
“District administrations will assess the losses and send us their reports today.”
Last month, unseasonal heavy rain across eastern and central India and parts of Nepal killed more than 100 people.
