Vadodara on edge, Vishwamitri river approaches danger-mark; schools shut today

Standing Committee Chairman Dr Sheetal Mistry told The Indian Express that the VMC was prepared to evacuate more residents if necessary amid the prediction for further rainfall on Sunday evening.

“From 8 am to 5 pm on Sunday, Vadodara received 3.79 inch (96.2mm) of rainfall, along with about 3 inches of rainfall in the catchment areas of the river in Panchmahal. The inflow into the river along its course has meant that the level has touched about 21 feet at Kala Ghoda (the benchmark point for floods) while Ajwa reservoir is at 212.85 feet and Pratappura at 225.5 feet.. Currently, water is not overflowing from the reservoirs but the heavy rainfall has brought the inflow into Vishwamitri,” Mistry said. Even as the city is on the edge and the VMC has placed more buses on standby, Mistry added, further rainfall will determine the level of inundation.

“As per the prediction of the IMD, there was a yellow alert for the city but it has rained heavily during the day… We are expecting the water level to recede over the next five hours, if there is no further rain,” the Standing Committee Chairman added.

Parts of the city, however, witnessed severe waterlogging during the day due to the heavy rainfall. Raopura, Dandiya Bazar, Waghodia Road, Ajwa Road, Sayajigunj, Subhanpura, Gotri, Gorwa, Harni, Sama and Kalali-Vadsar were among the areas that were waterlogged . The waterlogging at railway underpass at Alkapuri led to road closure.

Vadodara District Collector Bijal Shah told The Indian Express that two teams of NDRF were on standby. The Collector issued a notification for schools to be shut in Vadodara on Monday as precaution as Vishwamitri water level passed 22 feet.