Government officials reported that in the last two days, 24 individuals lost their lives due to lightning strikes, and approximately 23 sustained injuries in rain-related events in the western Indian state of Gujarat. As of Monday morning, rainfall persisted in the region.
Gujarat experienced heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and hailstorms on both Sunday and Monday, with certain areas recording up to 144 millimeters (5.7 inches) of rain within the 24-hour period ending on Monday morning, according to data from the state government.
The intense rains resulted in damage to homes and the loss of livestock throughout the state. Gujarat’s Agriculture Minister, Raghavij Patel, stated on Monday that a survey will soon commence to assess the extent of the losses. Compensation for the victims will be determined based on the results of this survey.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted continued rainfall in certain parts of the state on Monday.
Gujarat has a history of facing rain-related disasters. In August 2020, 14 people lost their lives in the state within a span of two days due to incidents related to heavy rains and flooding. The preceding year, in August 2019, 31 individuals lost their lives in rain-related events in Gujarat.
Delhi civic body deploys anti-smog guns with large tanks to combat air pollution
Meanwhile, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has introduced an anti-smog gun with the largest tank capacity as part of its efforts to combat air pollution in Lutyens’ Delhi. Delhi’s air quality has been categorized as “severe,” and authorities are looking to meteorological changes to improve conditions.
The newly deployed anti-smog gun is mounted on a 28-tonne CNG truck chassis, featuring a water tank with a capacity of 17,000 liters, the largest among all anti-smog guns deployed in Delhi by various agencies.
The substantial water tank allows the anti-smog gun to operate continuously for three hours. It has a throwing capacity of 30 to 50 meters and includes side nozzles to efficiently clean footpaths, shrubs, and plants.
