Vadaj slum units flooded by river Sabarmati (photos)

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad’s perhaps biggest slum pocket is situated in Vadaj area right next to the road connecting Gandhi ashram to Vadaj circle. Thousands of slum dwellers live in this pocket. Every time when over one lakh cusec water is released from Dharoi dam, it is only and only this pocket that suffers flood. It is because its location is as low as river bed. Also there’s a channel located next to this slum that brings flood water here when Dharoi overflows. DeshGujarat visited these people today morning. As AMC had alerted them yesterday itself, they had moved their furniture etc outside on footpath. Dozens of families were seen camping on footpath with their kids, furniture and other things. Though alert was issued many were not ready to move. They went atop their house when flood water arrived. Sanitation situation is pathetic here. Last time similar situation had occurred in year 2006. Compared to then, this time flood water level is lower. If there’s no rain and no fresh release of water from Dharoi, it may take two three days for them to resettle their life in their house. AMC has made arrangement in nearby AMC run school building for relocation. But majority of locals don’t rely on that facility. Pictures given today are clicked early in the morning today:

– DeshGujarat