Vadodara, 10 September 2014

Update at 10.00 am: Bridges are reopened for traffic as Vishwamitri’s level has gone down to 30.30 at 10.00 am.

Update at 12.00 in night:Vishwamitri level decreasing slowly.At 12 in night it’s 33.00 ft,down from 34 at 6.00 pm. Flood to stay till it’s 29 ft

Update at 7.30 pm: Flood control room in Vadodara informs that water level has started receding from 7.00 pm. From 34 ft, the level has come down to 33.9. It’s very minor change so far but it is believed that the level will come down to 33 ft in next couple of hours or so, provided there’s no fresh rain, and behavior of Dhadhar river continues to be favorable. This is the first reduction in last two days in Vishwamitri river’s level. It was much awaited. However flood-hit people will feel actual change in their living condition only after level goes down below 29 ft. So today’s night is testing time for the people.

Update at 3.00 pm Cause of relief for Vadodara is that there’s no rain within the city and Vishwamitri level is steady at 34 ft since 11.00 am. Cause of worry for Vadodara is that Pratappura sarovar is still overflowing. But even greated cause of worry is rising level of water at Ajwa. From 213.70 in the morning it has come up at 213.80 ft at 3.00 pm due to rainfall in upstream area. If Ajwa crosses 214 level, water release may resume. In that case, instead of going down, Vishwamitri level will again go up. At present the administration is waiting Vishwamitri level to decrease little bit, hopefully by evening.

Update at 1.00 pm Flood control room informs us that water level is still 34 ft. The level is steady at this mark for last two hours. This is against the earlier expectation of reduction in water level. It is because Pratappura’s overflow contributing to Vishwamitri’s level. Pratappura is another reservoir contributing water to Vishwamitri. The administration closed all 62 gates of Ajwa at 5.30 am and expected that effect of this move will be felt in Vadodara after 6 hours period. As per the estimate water level could rise till 11.30 or 12.00 and then could go down. But against this expectation, water level remained steady at 34 mark for last two hours because of Pratappura overflow. Reduction in water level will be actually felt after Pratappura stops overflowing.

Update at 12:40 pm DeshGujarat just spoke to one of the MLAs in Vadodara. He said water level is not likely to go down. He was worried deeply. He said the sky in Vadodara is very dark, and there’s possibility of rainfall which would make situation worse. He said level at Ajwa is around 213.75 and upstream areas of Ajwa are receiving good rain for last 3 hours. In that circumstances Ajwa will receive fresh inflow, and if Ajwa gets 214 ft level again, 62 gates will need to be opened again. In that circumstances level will further go up and that would create worse situation. He said it is for the first time that he witnessed 34 level of Vishwamitri in Vadodara. Worrying part at this time is associated with possibility of further shower, he further said.

Update at 11:30 am: The level is now at 34 ft. Ajwa level is down at 213.70 ft.

Update at 9:00 am: The level is 33.6 ft. It may go further 3 point up and reach 34 before going down.

Earlier update post 5.30 am:

In a latest development, the state administration has closed the gates of Aajwa reservoir at 5.30 am today to stop further rise in Vishwamitri river water.

According to fire control room of Vadodara Municipal Corporation, all 62 gates of Aajwa reservoir are closed at 5.30 am.

The gates were opened on Monday after level of water in Aajwa reservoir which is located in upstream area of Vadodara beyond 215 ft.

Due to release of water from Aajwa, the level of Vishwamitri river reached 33 ft today morning. Though water release has been stopped from Aajwa, level is still rising and the latest level is 33.3 due to water released earlier. The level may touch 34 ft. This is well beyond danger mark of 26 ft. On the other hand the level at Aajwa went below 214 ft.

The state administration took decision to close the gates of Aajwa reservoir at 213.75 ft level at around 5.30 am to prevent greater flood situation in Vadodara.

At present, the level of water at Aajwa is steady at 33 ft(latest 33.3). The level may go up and touch 34 due to water released earlier, but will go down depending on behavior of downstream river Dhadhar which is also flooding due to release of water from Dev dam.

Vishwamitri river’s water mixes with Dhadhar river in downstream area of Vadodara before it meet sea. As Dhadhar is already water reach due to release of water from Dev dam, it is not taking enough water from Vishwamitri river in needed speed.

Depending on Dhadhar’s behavior and also on proportion of rainfall in upstream, downstream and city areas, water level will go down in river Vishwamitri. As water release has been stopped from Aajwa, there’s no chance of level going up at present, but 33 ft level is also too much, and it has created flood like situation in many areas of Vadodara. In recent years, Vadodara city has never seen such a high level of river Vishwamitri. Aajwa’s level beyond 215 ft was also experienced day before yesterday, after a gap of over 35 years. Aajwa level was up due to heavy to very heavy rain in upstream areas.

Karelibag

Saffron Fatehgunj