Heavy rains hit Vadodara: SDRF, NDRF teams on standby; holiday announced in schools

July 24, 2024
Heavy rains hit Vadodara: SDRF, NDRF teams on standby; holiday announced in schools

Vadodara: The city of Vadodara has been experiencing heavy downpours since early morning. The city has received nearly 6 inches of rain from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Continuous rainfall has led to significant waterlogging in low-lying areas, with regions such as Tandalja, J.P. Road, Raopura, and Machhipith submerged in knee-deep water.

Briefing the media on heavy rains Gujarat Relief Commissioner Alok Panday said, “Sardar Sarovar Dam has reached 54.61% capacity; other than this, out of 206 dams in the state, 46 are overflowing, 25 are at 70% water level, 51 are on high alert, and 12 are under warning. During the monsoon season, over 4,000 people have been shifted to safer places, and 535 people have been rescued in total. In the last 24 hours, 215 people were rescued and 826 were shifted, mostly in Navsari, Dwarka, Surat, and Bharuch districts. Eight people have lost their lives in the last 24 hours due to lightning and drowning. Thirteen teams of NDRF and 20 teams of SDRF are deployed in multiple districts, with two NDRF teams held in reserve. A total of 666 roads, including 17 state highways, 42 other roads, and 607 panchayat roads, are closed due to water overflow.”

The heavy rains have also caused an influx of water into Ajwa Sarovar, which reached a level of 209.79 feet as of 5 p.m., approaching its dangerous level of 212 feet. The Vishwamitri River, currently at 17.02 feet, is 9 feet below its danger level of 26 feet.

The District Education Officer has announced a holiday for schools on Thursday due to severe waterlogging in the district.

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In eastern Vadodara, all societies on Waghodia Road are inundated with rainwater, causing severe mobility issues for residents. The clinic of former Vadodara Municipal Corporation Chairman Dr. Hitendra Patel is also submerged in knee-deep water, and many societies have reported rainwater entering homes.

While Vadodara city has been heavily affected, Padra taluka in the Vadodara district has experienced very heavy rainfall of up to 7.4 inches from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Several societies, including Odhavbhulani Khadi, Shakar Park Society, Tejas Society, and several on Jaspur Road, have been inundated. In Gujarat Housing Board areas, water has seeped into houses, displacing many residents.

Overall, Vadodara city and its rural areas have been severely impacted by the rainfall. Currently, two SDRF teams are on standby due to the rain situation in Vadodara, and the NDRF team has also been put on standby. Efforts are underway to rescue stranded school children and assist affected residents. Barricades have been placed around flooded areas, and evacuation plans are in place if the rain persists.

Collector Bijal Shah has instructed all district officers to monitor the situation closely and take immediate action to address any hazards caused by the heavy rain.

Here are the rainfall figures provided by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation:

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