AHMEDABAD: Heavy monsoon rains since Monday have led to the deaths of at least 18 people in parts of western Gujarat, India, according to state officials.

Disaster response teams have been deployed to assist residents in the southern regions of the state, who are preparing for even heavier rains.

The most affected areas include the cities of Palitana and Jesar, where 867 millimeters (34 inches) of rain fell within the last 24 hours as of Tuesday. State Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey reported that fatalities were caused by storms, lightning, and structural collapses due to the severe weather.

“The state is fully prepared to manage the situation and has accelerated inter-departmental coordination to ensure quick relief and rescue operations,” said Pandey.

Among those rescued were 18 farm laborers trapped in a mango orchard in the Gadhada area and 22 people from Surendranagar district, where rising river water entered their homes.

India’s annual monsoon season from June to September brings relief from intense summer heat and is crucial for water replenishment. However, flash floods and landslides during this period cause numerous fatalities every year across the country, which has a population of 1.4 billion.