Heavy Cloudburst Floods Ahmedabad, Brings City to a Halt
Ahmedabad came to a standstill on Thursday. An intense cloudburst dumped nearly seven inches of rain in just two hours. The downpour hit between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. Roads quickly flooded. Vehicles got trapped. Traffic ground to a halt. The event also exposed clear gaps in the city’s flood preparedness.
Authorities declared a holiday for all schools and colleges on July 24. Heavy rain continued to batter parts of Gujarat throughout the day.
Civic officials reported the heaviest rainfall in the southwest and northwest zones. These areas received an average of nine inches. The west zone logged eight inches. The central zone recorded 6.5 inches. Meanwhile, the south zone saw about four inches during the same period.
Despite its large municipal budget, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation faced sharp criticism. Roads turned into rivers within hours. Commuters sat stuck in long traffic jams. Many vehicles stalled in waist-deep water.
In Manekbagh, motorists pushed their cars and two-wheelers through flooded intersections. Water reached waist level in several spots. Residents questioned the city’s pre-monsoon preparations. Just two hours of rain had brought the large city to a complete stop.
The situation proved equally severe in Ambli village in Bopal. Floodwaters submerged roads, homes, and public infrastructure. Water levels rose above waist height in multiple areas. A local pond wall collapsed and sent three parked cars into the water. The incident sparked strong frustration among residents.
Several people said civic authorities failed to respond to their distress. “Everyone comes asking for votes, but no one comes when we need help,” residents reported. Many relied on neighbors for rescue and support.
Flooding also affected an Arogya Kendra health center. Nearly two feet of water entered the compound. Staff had to close the entrance. While some children played in the rain, many families struggled as water entered their homes.
Emergency services stayed busy all day. The fire department handled 10 calls about fallen trees. It also responded to two wall collapses and eight electrical short circuits. Police, fire personnel, and municipal workers assisted stranded residents across several localities.
The municipal corporation advised people to avoid 15 severely waterlogged roads. Officials temporarily closed eight major underpasses and later reopened them. Authorities also opened three gates of the Vasna Barrage. This step lowered the Sabarmati River’s water level and improved drainage as the rain eased.
The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in South Gujarat. Parts of Central Gujarat and Saurashtra remained under an orange alert. For Thursday, orange alerts covered much of central and south Gujarat. Mahisagar, Dahod, and Panchmahal stayed under a red alert for extremely heavy rain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. They reviewed the situation. The central government assured the state of all possible assistance.