Unseasonal Rains And Hailstorms Lash Gujarat; Trigger Crop Damage And Weather Warnings

Gujarat faced the brunt of unseasonal weather on Monday, with rains, hailstorms, and gusty winds battering several parts of the state.

The extreme weather has caused significant damage to standing crops, prompting concerns among both farmers and agricultural authorities.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), weather instability is expected to persist for the next five days, with wind speeds of 30 to 40 km/h and intermittent light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder.

An IMD official provided specific probabilities for continued rainfall:

• 63% chance on Tuesday
• 70% on Wednesday
• 40–45% over the following days

Saurashtra And Other Regions Hit Hard

Saurashtra reported particularly erratic weather, with Botad district witnessing heavy rainfall. Moti Vavdi village in Ranpur taluka experienced a hailstorm, damaging crops and causing distress among farmers.

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In Rajkot, the Pardi and Vinchiya areas recorded intense downpours and hailstones, while in Bhavnagar, heavy rain brought momentary respite from the heat but also led to incidents like a lightning strike that caused a wall collapse.

Agriculture Under Threat

The sudden weather shift has endangered key summer crops such as sorghum, millet, sesame, mango, and ridge gourd (teti). Farmers from across Saurashtra have already reported premature fruit drop and flattened crop fields, pointing to what could become a major financial blow in the weeks ahead.

Agricultural experts have sounded the alarm, citing the crops’ vulnerability to hail and waterlogging. District authorities have been instructed to conduct field surveys and assess the damage.

The State Agriculture Department may announce relief measures based on the severity of the impact.

Officials have urged residents to remain vigilant during storms, avoid unnecessary travel, and secure loose outdoor items to minimise the risk of injury or property damage.

The IMD continues to monitor the evolving weather system, promising regular updates and advisories to ensure public safety.