As of 6 am on Tuesday, Gujarat has received 46.89% of its seasonal average rainfall, amounting to 413.52 mm, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre. A total of 15 talukas across the state have recorded more than 1,000 mm of rain, while 42 talukas have reported between 500 mm and 1,000 mm.
In terms of regional distribution, Kutch leads with 56% of its average monsoon rainfall, followed by South Gujarat at 51.12%. Saurashtra, East-Central Gujarat, and North Gujarat have registered 45.92%, 45.29%, and 41.62%, respectively.
Dams Witness Inflow Surge; Multiple Sites on Alert
The steady rainfall has significantly improved water storage in reservoirs across the state. Gujarat&rsquo;s Sardar Sarovar Dam, a key source on the Narmada River, reached 1,61,069 mcft this morning &mdash; 48.21% of its full capacity &mdash; as it received an inflow exceeding 26,000 cusecs.
Overall, the state&rsquo;s 206 dams have collectively reached 55.06% of their total capacity. Of these, 24 dams have filled completely, 49 are between 70% and 100%, 44 range from 50% to 70%, and another 44 remain below 25%.
Shetrunji and Brahmani are among the dams that are now full. Meanwhile, others such as Dantiwada (15.39%), Sipu (5.29%), and Machchhu-II (33.16%) are still underfilled. Ukai Dam, among the largest in the state, currently holds 53.81% of its capacity and has reported the highest inflow at 24,540 cusecs.
Several major reservoirs &mdash; Dharoi (65.87%), Karjan (61.70%), and Panam (75.25%) &mdash; are maintaining healthy water levels. In South Gujarat, the Damanganga Dam has registered an inflow of 23,370 cusecs and an outflow of 19,393 cusecs.
Authorities have placed 34 dams on High Alert, 20 on Alert, and 19 on Warning. Dams flagged under High Alert include Dhatarvadi in Amreli, Shetrunji in Palitana, Brahmani in Morbi, as well as Dhari and Nyari-2 in Rajkot. Dholidhaja and Bhadar-2 are under Alert, while Aji-2, Aji-3, Panam, and Sukhi are on Warning status.
Rivers are also being closely monitored, with four currently in spate &mdash; Kaveri and Purna in Navsari, and Ranjit Sagar and Vagadia in Jamnagar. In light of the prevailing conditions, the India Meteorological Department has advised fishermen to avoid entering rivers between 8 and 11 July due to unsafe weather.
Widespread Road Damage Sparks Public Outcry
While the monsoon has replenished reservoirs, it has also left a trail of damage on the state's road network. The Rajkot&ndash;Ahmedabad highway has become a point of concern, with massive potholes on the Bagodara old bridge and deteriorating conditions on Gondal Road causing frequent traffic gridlocks.
Despite toll collection continuing unabated, pending repairs on several stretches &mdash; including a long-overdue project at Kuvadva &mdash; remain incomplete. The Bagodara&ndash;Limbdi route has particularly suffered, with a one-kilometre bridge riddled with hazardous potholes due to poor maintenance.
The Rajkot&ndash;Gondal highway, heavily used by commuters, has seen traffic snarls lasting up to four hours. Congress leader Gayatriba Vaghela brought the issue to the attention of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), sharing footage of the damaged roads.&nbsp;
According to Vaghela, an NHAI official acknowledged the situation and stated that the new bridge was yet to be inaugurated, but failed to clarify why repairs were not made to the old bridge, which remains in use.
The slow pace of construction on the six-lane Rajkot&ndash;Jetpur stretch has only worsened matters. Service and alternative routes are also in disrepair, amplifying daily difficulties for residents. &ldquo;These delays have made daily life intolerable,&rdquo; said Congress leader Rohit Rajput, noting a three-to-four-hour traffic jam on the same route. He added that such scenes have become routine, yet no concrete steps have been taken by officials to resolve them.
In Ahmedabad, the condition of roads has deteriorated severely. Areas such as Paldi, Naranpura, Navrangpura, Chandlodiya, and Ghatlodiya have reported a combined total of over 1,600 potholes this season. Although temporary fillings were attempted, many have been eroded by ongoing rains, revealing underlying flaws in the repair work.
The worst-affected localities include Navrangpura with 344 potholes, Vasna (244), Naranpura (195), Ranip (151), Paldi (123), and Navavadaj (138). In the city&rsquo;s North-West zone &mdash; including Thaltej, Ghatlodiya, Bodakdev, and Chandlodiya &mdash; a total of 648 potholes have been reported.
In response, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation held an emergency meeting where the Municipal Commissioner ordered immediate action. However, the patchwork being done has drawn criticism, with reports of new potholes emerging at the same spots due to inadequate filling.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, during a review meeting in Gandhinagar on Monday, directed all departments to commence road repair without delay, even during holidays or active rainfall. Emphasising that roads are the &ldquo;main artery&rdquo; of progress, Patel insisted that repair efforts must be persistent and visible. &ldquo;Every dry day must be used. No holiday should delay progress,&rdquo; he said.
The Chief Minister also issued a warning regarding accountability: &ldquo;Contractors will be accountable if roads are damaged within the defect liability period.&rdquo;
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Monsoon rains bring water security to Gujarat but expose crumbling roads and delayed repairs.

Reservoirs Fill Fast, Roads Suffer in Gujarat

Monsoon rains bring water security to Gujarat but expose crumbling roads and delayed repairs.

July 9, 2025 | 01:50 IST