India, July 24 -- Umergam in Gujarat's Valsad district recorded 1,064 mm, or nearly 42 inches, of rain in 24 hours ending 8.30am on Thursday, the third-highest ever recorded in India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said even as floods and heavy rainfall have forced the evacuation of 38,653 people to safer places across the state. As many as 12,554 people were shifted and 1,826 rescued in Valsad, the state government said.

The IMD said only Meghalaya's Sohra (1,563.3mm) on June 16, 1995 and Lakshadweep's Aminidivi (1,168.5mm) on May 6, 2004, have recorded higher 24-hour rainfall in India than Umergam.

The extreme rainfall was also recorded elsewhere in the Valsad district. In the same 24-hour period ending 8.30am Thursday, Kap...