Rajkot: Heavy rain lashed several parts of Kutch district from Monday evening, bringing much-needed relief to residents after a prolonged dry spell.Mandvi recorded nearly 177mm of rain till Tuesday morning, causing widespread waterlogging and disrupting normal life in the coastal town.According to local residents, several areas of Mandvi were inundated as rainwater swept through roads during the intense downpour. Visibility also dropped sharply, with residents reporting that it was difficult to see beyond 50 metres amid the heavy rain.Waterlogging was reported in Salaya, Navapara, Azad Chowk and surrounding areas around the head post office, among other locations. Several localities were submerged under knee-deep water, while the premises of the govt hospital in Mandvi was also waterlogged.The heavy rainfall also sent local rivers and streams in spate, increasing water flow in low-lying areas and raising concerns over further inundation.In Anjar, rainwater entered several housing societies, damaging household belongings. A railway underpass was also waterlogged, triggering major traffic congestion and disrupting vehicular movement for several hours.A copious amount of rainfall was recorded in Abdasa, Nakhatrana, Mundra and Bhuj talukas as well, bringing much-needed moisture to the parched landscape.The rainfall is particularly significant for Kutch’s natural grasslands, which are a crucial source of fodder for livestock. A good spell of rain is expected to improve grass availability and could help curb the migration of cattle breeders in search of fodder and water.Thousands of cattle breeders had already begun moving out of their villages with cows and buffaloes due to fodder and water shortages. The fresh rainfall has now raised hopes that improved availability of grass and water will allow many of them to remain in the region.
