Gujarat is no stranger to rain-related disasters, but major rainstorms are not expected in the state during the winter months.
Government officials said 24 people were killed by lightning strikes and about 23 others were injured in rain-related incidents in the western Indian state of Gujarat over the past two days, as rain continued to fall on Monday morning.
The state was hit by heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms on Sunday and Monday, with some places receiving up to 144 mm (5.7 inches) of rain in the 24 hours ending Monday morning, according to state government data.
The rains caused damage to homes and the death of livestock across the state. At least 40 animals were also killed.
“We will start a survey soon to assess the losses we have incurred,” Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patil said on Monday, adding that compensation would be paid to the victims based on the survey results.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast continued rainfall in parts of the state on Monday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails from Gujarat, said he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths, in a post on the social media platform X.
Gujarat is no stranger to rain-related disasters, but such major rainstorms are not expected in the state during the winter months, and the heavy rains have caught many by surprise.
In August 2020, 14 people died in the state in just two days in various incidents related to heavy rains and floods. A year ago, in August 2019, 31 people died in the state in rain-related accidents.
As floods and lightning kill dozens of people in India every year, scientists warn that rising global temperatures are unleashing a cascade of extreme weather events.
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