370 people shifted again as Rajkot school where they were sheltered gets flooded

As extremely heavy rain continued overnight, Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) started evacuating people from low-lying areas like Jungleshwar, Ramnathpara, Laludi Vokali, Bhagwatipara and Popatpara, among others, along the banks of Aji river from 12.30 am Tuesday.

Around 370 people from Jungleshwar were evacuated and given shelter in school No. 70 run by Rajkot Municipal School Board (RMSB) in that area. “However, as the rain intensified, water started entering the school compound in the morning and then surged in no time. Around 370 people who had been given shelter there had to be evacuated again. The fire brigade, from 9 am, shifted the people to a nearby community hall and a mosque,” Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Devang Desai told The Indian Express.

Vikram Pujara, chairman of RMSB, said the water level rose in a threatening manner on Tuesday evening. “The floodwater first inundated the ground of the school and then entered the ground floor lobby. People who had been given shelter there, were shifted to the first floor. But water level kept rising and people had to be shifted to other shelters,” he added.

After being pounded by more than 10 inches of rain during 24 hours ending at 6 am on Tuesday, Rajkot was lashed by eight more inches of rain between 6 am and 12 pm on Tuesday, requiring the RMC to rescue around 1,300 people.

“Following heavy rainfall, Aji dam overflowed at 6.20 am on Tuesday, causing a flood in Aji river. Anticipating this, we had started evacuating people from 12.30 am. By the time the dam started overflowing, we had completed evacuation. But the operation extended till late morning as some people left temporary shelters and returned to their homes. But their homes were flooded as water started overflowing Aji dam,” Desai said.

Located on the northeastern periphery of the city, Aji dam is a major source of drinking water for Rajkot.

Life was thrown out of gear as many roads remained closed to traffic and RMC suspended BRTS services. City bus service routes were also affected. “Railway under-bridges at Mahila College Chowk and Railnagar and Popatpara railway underpass are flooded and closed to vehicular traffic. Also flooded are sections of the 150-feet Ring Road on which BRTS buses ply. As all the buses plying on BRTS are electric buses, which can’t be run on flooded roads, we have suspended BRTS services,” said Desai.

One person was rescued after he tried to cross the flooded Popatpara railway underpass, he said, adding that no other untoward incident was reported from the city.

The RMC said that 61 trees were uprooted, temporarily blocking traffic on some roads. The RMC had to also shut electric furnaces at crematoriums in Mavdi and Bapunagar.

Meanwhile, the state government cancelled Dharohar, the annual Janmashtami fair, amid ongoing controversy about the operation of amusement rides. Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel inaugurated the fair on Race Course ground on Saturday evening. However, due to heavy rain, the ground has been flooded since Sunday.

The five-day fair was to culminate on Wednesday. The Rajkot collector – who is also chairman of Lok Mela Samiti that organises the fair – said: “We have cancelled the fair. Honourable chief minister has instructed us to ensure that small vendors are not inconvenienced. Therefore, we are giving full refund to those who had purchased plots for setting up stalls.