Vadodara: At 5 am today (July 25), the level of water at Vishwamitri river which passes through the city of Vadodara has touched the danger mark of 26 ft.  Through the night, the level rose by around half ft every hour. The city received heavy rains a day ago(217 mm during 6 am to 4 am 22 hours period).

The level of water is rose due to discharge of water from upstream Ajwa reservoir. As per the rule, if it’s before 15th of August, the release of water from the dam takes place after 211 ft level is reached. The danger mark at Ajwa is 214 ft. The level rose fast as it was 208.50 at 2 pm a day ago. At 5 pm it was 209.45 ft. The rivers Surya, Vagholi, Omkar and Gojari, help to fill Ajwa dam up with rainwater. Ajwa receives water due to heavy rain in Panchmahal, Jambughoda, Pavagadh-Champaner areas of Central Gujarat.

Vishwamitri river which would be considered above danger-mark at 26 ft and result into some flood in low lying areas. The situation further worsens if the level goes above 29 ft. The level was at 20.50 ft level at 7 pm a day ago. It was 15 ft at 3 pm and 19 ft at 4 pm a day ago(on July 24).

As per the past experiences of the year 2019, 2013, 2014, the river can affect extreme low lying areas even at 29 ft level. In 2020, the people in low lying areas had started parking their vehicles on the over bridges to save them from flood water.  Past experiences suggest that the river water can be seen on the roads if 28 ft level is crossed. Two bridges namely Kalaghoda bridge and Mangal Pandey bridge are closed for traffic at 28.6 ft level of water in Vishwamitri. All bridges are needed to be closed at 30+ level. Basically, flood situation can be seen in parts after 29 ft level. Vishwamitri river mixes with Dhadhar river after Vadodara. The fast discharge of  water from Vishwamitri river depends on how much loaded Dhadhar river is. If there’s huge water released from Dev dam in Dhadhar river and it is extra-loaded, it doesn’t take water from Vishwamitri river efficiently, or takes it in very slow fashion.

The other thing is, if Ajwa dam continues to get fresh inflow from upstream areas (Catchment areas of Ajwa include the parts of Vadodara and Panchmahal district including Waghodiya, Halol, Jambughoda areas )due to heavy rainfall there, water would have to be released towards Vadodara in Vishwamitri river. If water is also released from Pratappura reservoir towards Vadodara in Vishwamitri, then Vishwamitri’s level rises further.  DeshGujarat

Updates on July 25 post sunrise 

–  At 8 am Alkapuri Garnalu (underpass) has been declared shut by Vadodara Municipal Corporation(VMC) due to water logging

• 800 people are evacuated and shifted to safer places in the night according to VMC commissioner, they are taken to 20 schools

• According to Municipal Commissioner Dilip Rana, Vishwamitri will go below danger level fast due to no rainfall today for last 12 hours. IMD has also predicted light to moderate rainfall only.

• No further shifting of people will be required if there’s no further rainfall today, said Municipal Commissioner.

• Kala Ghoda and Mangal Pandey bridges shut for traffic as the level of water crosses 28 ft mark in river Vishwamitri

Flood like effect will be in display on roads and low lying areas as the level of Vishwamitri at Kalaghoda has touched 29 ft

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UPDATE SINCE 9 PM on JULY 24: