Since the torrential pre-monsoon showers hit the city, Ahmedabad has reported 19 road cave-ins in as many days, causing damage and destruction.
“As of Tuesday, the AMC has recorded 19 cave-ins in the last 19 days,” said Harpalsinh Jhala, chief engineer of AMC.
Praveen Chaudhary, Deputy Commissioner of AMC, in charge of the north-west zone, added: “After the torrential pre-monsoon rain, a number of cave-ins occurred. Like the one at Valinath Chowk near AEC bridge.” The 45 year-old drainage line that is about 25-ft deep collapsed creating a big pothole on the road.
Chaudhary said, “Monsoon hasn’t started yet. But the city has already recorded about 4.2 inch of rain, as on June 4. The heavy downpour flooded some places but there was waterlogging for only two-three hours. Then it drained completely because new stormwater networks have been laid at major waterlogging spots.”
“About 1.2 km of storm water line was laid from Kumud Nagar and Hari Villa, which have huge waterlogging spots. Mostly, if there is around four to five inches of rain, there will be waterlogging about four-five hours,” he added.
According to Jhala, the city witnessed about 25 tree falls despite the tree trimming exercise performed by AMC as part of this year’s pre-monsoon action plan. “Since the pre-monsoon rain started, 25 trees have fallen.”
While the city’s sewage drainage network is estimated to be 3,300 km long, the storm water network is only 900 km long, according to officials. As a result, there are many locations where rainwater only enters the drainage system. However, because drainage covers are different from catch pit covers, they must be removed in order for water to flow through the network.