Surat: South Gujarat witnessed intense rainfall, triggering widespread waterlogging, submerging low-lying bridges and damaging infrastructure.Authorities have advised people to exercise caution in low-lying areas and avoid crossing flooded roads and bridges.In Surat district, Palsana recorded the highest rainfall at 203 mm in the 24-hour period ending 6 am on Thursday, followed by Bardoli (197 mm), Mahuva (191 mm), Ambika (164 mm) and Umarpada (120 mm).Neighbouring Valsad district also received very heavy rainfall, with Umbergaon recording 196 mm, Vapi 189 mm and Pardi 113 mm. Waterlogging was reported from several parts of the district as runoff accumulated on roads and in residential neighbourhoods.Fresh showers after 6am further worsened the situation in Olpad, which received 94 mm of rainfall. Waterlogging in industrial areas disrupted access roads and affected operations at several manufacturing units, according to local reports.A 21-year-old motorcyclist, Sufiyan Mamuji, a mobile phone repair technician from Kosadi village in Mangrol taluka, was killed after an electricity pole collapsed on him while he was travelling towards Bharuch during the heavy rain, sources said.Heavy rain also damaged infrastructure along the newly built Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near the Kim crossroads, where a portion of the cement concrete slope protection collapsed, leading to soil erosion beneath the carriageway. Expressway authorities said the damage is being assessed and repairs will be carried out on priority to prevent further deterioration.
