Monsoon Rains Kill 27 in Gujarat as Rescue Efforts Intensify
June 19, 2025 — Gujarat, India
At least 27 people have died in western India’s Gujarat state after three days of torrential monsoon rains triggered flash floods, lightning strikes, and building collapses, state officials confirmed Wednesday.
The Gujarat government reported nine additional deaths on Wednesday, raising the total from 18 the previous day. Most fatalities were due to drowning, while others resulted from severe storms, lightning, and structural damage.
Palitana and Jesar towns were among the hardest hit, recording an extraordinary 867 millimeters (34 inches) of rain within 24 hours on Tuesday.
Disaster response teams have been deployed across the region to conduct rescue operations. In one effort, authorities rescued 18 farm laborers trapped in mango orchards in the Gadhada area and 22 residents in Surendranagar district where floodwaters surged into homes.
State Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said the government had intensified inter-agency coordination to provide rapid assistance. “The state is fully equipped to manage the situation and ensure timely relief,” he said.
India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to September, is vital for agriculture and water reserves but often causes deadly flooding and landslides. Each year, the seasonal rains claim dozens of lives across the country.
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