Even as the intensity of rainfall eased across much of Gujarat on Saturday, the Rajula-Jafrabad-Pipavav coastal belt in Amreli district witnessed a fresh spell of intense rain, leading to heavy waterlogging and inundation in villages.After Rajula town received around 4 inches of rain, torrential showers lashed Jafrabad town and several villages in the taluka.The sea turned turbulent near the Jafrabad lighthouse as strong winds whipped up high waves along the coast. As a precautionary measure, signal 3 was activated at Jafrabad port, and fishermen and boat operators were advised not to venture into the sea.Heavy rainfall was reported from several villages, including Kagvadar, Bhatvadar, Sarovda, Mithapur, Nageshri, Lothpur and Kanthariya. Water flowed over rural roads, while several low-lying areas remained submerged.The river near Chhotra village overflowed, while a breached farm embankment near Borala village allowed floodwater to enter a house, leaving it knee-deep in water.In north Gujarat, Patan town witnessed widespread waterlogging after receiving around 5 inches of rain, exposing what residents alleged was poor pre-monsoon preparedness by the municipality. Low-lying areas remained inundated, severely disrupting normal life and traffic.The stretch from Padmanath Chowk to Ramnagar, a key arterial road linking Padmanath Temple with Borsan and five surrounding villages, resembled a lake after the heavy downpour. Students, office-goers and villagers who use the route daily were forced to wade through water, while motorists navigated the submerged road at considerable risk.Residents said the problem recurs every monsoon despite repeated complaints. They alleged that the Patan municipality has failed to implement a permanent drainage solution, leaving people to endure waterlogging year after year. With another spell of rain forecast, locals have urged the civic body to address the chronic flooding issue before it worsens further.In Aravalli, the district administration has banned heavy vehicles from using the Vatrak river bridge near Dabha village on the Bayad-Dehgam state highway after heavy waterlogging raised concerns over the bridge’s structural safety.South Gujarat to be poundedFor the next three days, heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremely heavy falls is likely over Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari and Valsad, the Union Territories of Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh and Gir Somnath, besides Diu. The area under the warning is expected to gradually shrink over the following days, remaining confined to Surat, Tapi, Dang, Navsari and Valsad, then to Navsari and Valsad by the end of the forecast period.
