In an unexpected turn of weather, several parts of Saurashtra were hit by unseasonal rains, with certain areas receiving up to four to five inches of precipitation. The sudden showers following intense heat transformed the region into a monsoon-like setting, causing severe damage to standing crops and agricultural produce.
Visavadar recorded the heaviest rainfall, leading to waterlogging in fields and agricultural yards. In Kotda Sangani, around two inches of rain accompanied by thunder and strong winds struck around 6 PM, resulting in fallen trees that blocked the Rajgarh Road. In Rajkot, temperatures had soared above 41°C earlier in the day, leaving residents uneasy. Although clouds gathered later, the lack of significant cooling rainfall offered little relief from the scorching heat.
Gondal and Jamkandorna witnessed approximately one and a half inches of rain. In Gondal's marketing yard, large quantities of onions were soaked, leading to substantial losses for traders. Veerpur pilgrimage site also experienced around an inch of intense rainfall, causing waterlogging on nearby roads. Vinchhiya faced two bouts of stormy rain in the evening, while many villages in Junagadh district saw consistent rainfall.
In Kalasari, Vekaria, Lalpur, and Kalavad, rainfall of up to five inches was recorded, again disrupting the Kotda Sangani–Rajgarh route. Liliya and Bagasara each recorded about one inch of rain. In Shivajinagar, Savarkundla, trees toppled due to strong winds, damaging nearby vehicles. Light rain and gusty winds also impacted areas like Ajdhari, Chalala, Khambha, and Vadia, disrupting normal life.
The unseasonal rains have dealt a significant blow to summer crops such as onions, chillies, groundnuts, green grams, and sesame. Produce stored in fields and marketing yards was soaked, leading to financial losses for many farmers. As the weather continues to fluctuate, the agricultural community in the region remains concerned about further damage and urgently awaits assessment and aid from local authorities.
