Vishwamitri overflows, over 8,000 people evacuated in Vadodara

In contrast, rain took a pause around Tuesday noon after three days in Surat and South Gujarat but power outages and mobile network disruptions were reported from the flood-hit areas. The authorities have begun clearing up the debris left by the floodwater and launched door-to-door surveys for illness.

In Vadodara, the Vishwamitri river touched its maximum of 35.25 feet by Tuesday evening. The danger mark of the river is at 25 feet. “As a precautionary measure, the local administration has shifted more than 3,000 people from low-lying areas to safer places,” Vadodara collector Bijal Shah told PTI earlier in the day. The river continued to swell and crossed the 40-feet mark in many areas late on Tuesday. As a result, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) decided to close the gates of Ajwa and Pratappura reservoirs to reduce the water-logging. “Since the rainfall has reduced in the catchment areas and it is necessary to take essential services to people and also carry out rescue operations, we have decided to shut the gates of Ajwa at 213.65 feet and Pratappura at 230.20 feet,” said VMC Standing Committee chairman Dr Sheetal Mistry.

VMC Commissioner Dilip Rana told the media that the move is a “calculated risk” as long as the rain does not resume. “It was a unanimous decision by the office-bearers and elected representatives. We are expecting that if the rain does not resume, we will be able to reduce the waterlogging by about four feet… However, we might have to reopen the gates if the rains resume,” Rana said.

As per the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), Vadodara city received 307 mm of rainfall between 6 am and 12 am of Monday, which resulted in waterlogging in many areas. While the rain has stopped since early morning, several parts of Vadodara city as well as main roads remained under knee-deep water, forcing people to stay indoors. Several residential societies in the Harni and Sama areas were left stranded as flood water entered the ground floors of various homes. Fire department rescued stranded residents from Vadsar, Harni, Vishwamitri and other areas on boats. VMC has warned of further rise in water-logging as the Ajwa dam reservoir, through which the Vishwamitri water is released, was at 214 feet and continued to discharge water. Civic officials said they were trying to bring the reservoir level to 212 feet.

Following incessant rains in the upstream areas and release of water from Ajwa dam, the water level of the Vishwamitri river has been rising since Monday.

Severe water-logging has left the inundated colonies without water and power supply. Madhya Gujarat Vij Corporation ltd (MGVCL) Superintendent Engineer DV Patel told The Indian Express that nearly 10 lakh consumers have been affected after 20 feeders were shut down due to the flood. “We have been getting phone calls to turn off the meters in several colonies whose basements have been flooded. The feeders will be restored once the water recedes,” Patel said. MGVCL, the state government-run power discom supplying power to central Gujarat, also warned of further rise in water levels in the city.

In Surat and South Gujarat, water began to recede as the rain took a pause. The district administration started cleaning activities, while health officials were engaged in door-to-door surveys to check for outbreak of diseases.

In Navsari, health officials rescued a pregnant woman from an inundated Bander Road. She was rushed to Kasturba Hospital where she delivered a boy. In another incident, a woman from the same area was moved to her parents’ home in the nearby Parnera village.

More than 1,500 people have been moved to various shelter homes and some to their relatives’ places in Navsari over the past few days, district authorities said.

Navsari district collector Kshipra Agre said, “The water level in the three rivers has receded and we are concentrating on public health and cleaning activities. Surat Municipal Corporation teams have arrived in Navsari and along with local teams, cleaning activities have begun. People have started returning to their homes. Everything is under control, as no major rainfall has been recorded today.”

The collector added that a person from Salej village of Gandevi taluka who went fishing in a creek had gone missing. “His body is yet to be discovered, while attempts are made to locate him,” Agre said.

Sources in the Valsad district Panchayat health department said 13 teams have been deployed for surveillance activities in the flood-affected areas. The health teams also treated those who were sick. Teams from the Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) were also on the toes to check the power supply lines and have restored electricity in some areas.

A woman from Mumbai, who was in Valsad to meet her parents and was trapped in the flood water, was rescued by an NDRF team and shifted to 21st Century Hospital. Her  condition is reported to be stable.

“The situation is under control as no rainfall has been reported and the water level in Auranga river has dropped. We are focusing on cleaning and health checkups. The people who have been evacuated are returning back to their homes. No casualties have been reported so far. The roads that were closed yesterday due to water-logging have been opened today,” said Valsad district collector Naimesh Dave.

With PTI inputs