Sudden rain spell drenches Surat, South Gujarat

Surat: A sudden spell of rain swept across Surat city and several parts of South Gujarat in the early hours of Tuesday, bringing much-needed relief from the heat but disrupting normal life, snarling traffic and catching civic authorities off guard.

The sudden weather change brought temporary disruption across the region and triggered a sharp drop in temperature, with the mercury falling by nearly 7 degrees celsius.

In Surat city, the showers exposed the poor condition of several stretches where roads had been dug up for ongoing civic works and left incomplete. The rain turned many damaged patches slippery and hazardous, making commuting difficult for motorists and pedestrians alike. At several locations, civic works had not been secured against adverse weather, highlighting gaps in preparedness.

Waterlogging was reported from parts of Udhna during the morning hours, though the situation eased later as the accumulated water receded. Strong winds accompanying the rain uprooted trees at multiple locations in the city, raising safety concerns and causing traffic disruptions.

The wet spell extended beyond Surat, with several areas across South Gujarat recording significant rainfall. Umarpada taluka in Surat district received the highest rainfall at 70mm. Valod in Tapi district recorded 31 mm, while Hansot in Bharuch district and Waghai in Dangs logged 30mm each.

Vyara in Tapi district received 29mm of rain, followed by Chikhli in Navsari district with 27mm. Mahuva in Surat district recorded 24mm, while Ambika in Surat received 20mm.