Ahmedabad, along with much of Gujarat, has been hit by torrential rains since Sunday, bringing the city to a standstill. The relentless downpour has caused widespread waterlogging, road and underpass closures, and the shutdown of major landmarks like the Riverfront, Atal Bridge, and River Cruise. Schools are closed, and trains and buses are delayed.
Here’s a comprehensive update on Ahmedabad’s weather situation.
10 inches of rain brings the city to a standstill
Ahmedabad has been experiencing a deluge for three days, from Sunday evening to Tuesday evening, with an average of 10 inches of rain recorded across the city. The relentless downpour, coupled with strong winds, has caused widespread chaos, leaving roads and residential areas waterlogged, disrupting essential services, and uprooting 188 trees.
Record rainfall in Maninagar
Maninagar saw the heaviest rainfall, recording a staggering 13 inches (330.2mm) during this period. Other areas also faced intense rainfall, with Naroda receiving 259mm, Ramol 231mm, and several other localities such as Chakudia Mahadev Temple, Odhav, Jodhpur, Science City, and Gota all registering over 200mm.
Citywide waterlogging and closures
The torrential rains led to severe waterlogging in various parts of Ahmedabad, including major roads like CG Road, Sindhu Bhavan Road, and the main route to the airport.
Several underpasses, including Mithakhali, Akhbarnagar, Parimal, Usmanpura, and Tragad, were closed due to the water accumulation. Residential areas like Maninagar, Gurukul Road, Ghatlodia, Vatva, and Memnagar also experienced significant flooding.
Over 50 roads have been damaged, potholes have emerged
The heavy rainfall wreaked havoc on Ahmedabad’s roads, with more than 50 roads suffering severe damage. Large potholes have emerged on major routes such as Ashram Road near the AUDA office and Navrangpura railway crossing.
Other affected areas include Drive-In Road, Helmet Circle Road, and parts of the 132-foot Ring Road in Bodakdev. The road near Navrangpura Metro station and other routes like Lakhudi Talav, the Vadaj-BRTS road, and Memnagar road have also sustained damage.
IMD Forecast: Critical days ahead
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more heavy to very heavy rainfall for the next five days, with Wednesday and Thursday expected to be particularly severe. Regions including Ahmedabad, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, and Valsad are likely to experience intense rainfall on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Tapi, Navsari, and Valsad are expected to be hit hard. Additionally, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Botad, and Kutch districts may also see extremely heavy rainfall during this period.
