Winter rain leaves farmers worried in Gujarat

The semblance of winter chill experienced in the state gave way to wet weather as several parts of Gujarat received drizzles to moderate rain on Wednesday under the impact of Cyclone Mandous residual effect.

As predicted, the southern Gujarat districts of Dang, Valsad, and parts of Bharuch, witnessed sporadic rainfall. The wet weather left farmers growing vegetables and fruits a worried lot.

Light drizzles were reported in Surat and parts of Ahmedabad cities even as cloudy weather prevailed throughout the day.

Visitors in the state's only hill station Saputara experienced drizzles along with cold. Due to rainy weather, outdoor activities were hampered in Saputara.

In Bharuch's Hansot taluka, the unseasonal rain left a large number of farmers brooding over their vegetable crops Several roads in Hansot town were soaked with continuous rainfall.

In most parts of central Gujarat, the sky remained overcast for a better part of the day on Wednesday.

Light showers were witnessed in the Naswadi and Kawant villages in Chhota Udepur district.

Isolated drizzle also took place in Tilakwada taluka in Narmada district. While no rain was reported in Anand, Panchmahal, Mahisagar, Dahod and Vadodara districts, the district administration in Dahod advised farmers in the district to cover any food grains stored by them in wake of the possibility of rain.

The forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated: "Light rain is very likely at isolated places in the districts Ahmedabad, Kheda, Anand, Mahisagar, Aravalli, Tapi, Dang, Surat, Narmada, Navsari, Valsad and in Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Botad, Rajkot, Amreli, Gir-Somnath and Junagadh."

Residents of Ahmedabad were also caught unawares in the afternoon as drizzles soaked several parts.

Several parts of Bhavnagar and Amreli districts also recorded rainfall.