Natural Disasters – Safeguard Measures Gujarat Cloudburst Heavy to very heavy rains pounded several districts in Gujarat's south and Saurashtra regions, triggering a flood-like situation in urban areas and isolating villages amid rising water levels in dams and rivers surging to danger levels due to cloudburst. About Cloudburst Cloudburst is defined as a geo-hydrological hazard. Cloudbursts are sudden, unprecedented heavy rainfall. Rainfall over 100 mm or 10 cm per hour over a region of 20 to 30 square km falls into this category. Causes It occurs mainly in mountainous areas when the warm air currents rise from the ground towards clouds. It carries the falling raindrops along with it. Thus, the rainfall fails to occur steadily, and the clouds have excessive condensation. There is also an accumulation of a large amount of water at high altitudes. The upward current becomes weak, and the waterfalls on a single stretch. Generally, cloudbursts occur at an elevation of 1000 to 2500 meters above sea level. Cumulonimbus clouds are responsible for the heavy downpour. National Disaster Management Authority It is headed by the Prime Minister of India It was established on September 27, 2006 Set up based on National Disaster Management Act, 2005