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Even as four persons died after being stuck by lightning in Saurashtra, rains that lashed many parts of the region on Saturday came as a major relief to farmers facing crop loss due to deficient rainfall in August.

More good news followed as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a rainfall forecast for the next four days. Officials said that light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at isolated places in the districts of south Gujarat, Saurashtra, Diu, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli during the next four days.

Rains, coupled with lightning, claimed four lives on Saturday. A man died in Moruka village of Talala taluka in Gir-Somnath, while a 10-year-old girl died in Jamdar village of Kotda-Sangani taluka in Rajkot. A 17-year-old youth identified as Arvind died in Ora village of Vichhiya taluka and one person died in Rafda village of Rajkot. Over 10 cattle died due to lightning in four districts of Saurashtra.

According to the district flood control room, moderate to rather heavy rains occurred in Amreli, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Surendranagar and Rajkot districts on Saturday evening.

In Junagadh, Vanthali recorded 80mm rainfall followed by Bhesan (76mm), Junagadh (56mm) and Mendarda (15mm). In Jamnagar, Kalavad received 110mm rainfall while Jamjodhpur recorded 80mm rainfall in just two hours.