Ahmedabad: Two days of relentless rain have erased much of Gujarat’s early monsoon deficit, lifting the state past half its average seasonal rainfall by Saturday. Seasonal rainfall in the state rose from 27.2% on July 20 to 52% by July 25, while Ahmedabad jumped from 12.2% to 56%. The sharp turnaround has eased immediate concerns over water availability.The turnaround came despite El Nino concerns and forecasts of a below-normal monsoon. The slow start had prompted fears of water stress, with the state govt considering reserving available supplies primarily for drinking. The latest spell, however, brought Gujarat to the 50% mark in the second half of July, broadly matching the pace seen over the past five years.
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Rainwater fills Sarkhej Roza after deluge in Ahmedabad
However, the distribution remains uneven. South Gujarat has received 76.4% of its seasonal average and accounts for much of the statewide rise, while Kutch has only received 18.6%. Other regions have received 34% to 43% of rain.Five talukas — four in south Gujarat and one in Saurashtra — have already crossed their full seasonal average, according to SEOC data. Twenty-seven talukas have logged more than 1,000mm, while 33 have received 501mm to 1,000mm. The number of talukas above 1,000mm has already exceeded the comparable 2025 tally.An earth sciences expert said increasingly intense, short rain spells were producing flash floods. Ahmedabad and parts of south Gujarat received 50mm to 60mm or more within one or two hours, overwhelming drainage systems and flooding low-lying areas.Gujarat recorded below-average seasonal rainfall in only two of the past 10 years. Shifts in rainfall and water availability have also changed farming in historically dry Kutch and Saurashtra, allowing some growers to cultivate exotic crops and raise more than one crop annually. That shift has expanded cultivation possibilities, though experts say rainfall timing remains as important as volume.
