RAJKOT - The repercussions of Cyclone Biparjoy continue to manifest in the form of heavy rainfall across several districts in Gujarat. Rajkot witnessed a downpour on Friday morning with a precipitation of two inches of rain between 7 am and 8 am. The resulting deluge inundated low-lying regions and caused torrential rain in the city's upper regions. Meanwhile, Upleta recorded six inches of rain since Thursday night.
Strong winds and relentless rainfall from early morning led to significant flooding in Rajkot's low-lying areas. Shantytowns near Luludi Vokli and Sinduria Khan were submerged in water, causing distress to residents. Bhaktinagar's police team initiated evacuation efforts, moving affected people to safer locations and arranging for their accommodation and food.
In the wake of the storm and subsequent rains, schools and colleges in Rajkot city district declared a holiday. The district extended the school holiday, suspending all educational activities. As per the District Education Officer's orders, school staff must remain on-site, ready to assist with shelter home operations if required. They are also expected to support work and administration in the affected areas as mandated.
Upleta has also been impacted by the cyclone, experiencing heavy rain and strong winds well into Friday evening. The region has received six inches of rain so far, with floodwaters inundating local farmland.
The continual heavy rains have also forced the closure of Rajkot's airport. Afternoon flights have been cancelled, causing a disruption in international connectivity and inconvenience to passengers. Furthermore, the harsh weather conditions have inflicted damage in Rajkot city, with the tents of a Covid Hospital and a portable hospital at Chaudhary High School both suffering due to the strong winds.
