A 45-year-old man, Manubhai Pitambardas Panchal, lost his life on Wednesday night after being swept away along with his bike into an open drainage channel on Odhav Canal Road in Ahmedabad.
According to a media report, the incident occurred around 8:50 pm while Panchal was returning home amid heavy rainfall. Despite barricades placed at the spot, the strong water flow pulled his bike into the open drain. Eyewitnesses immediately alerted authorities.
Teams from the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES), including personnel from the Odhav and Nikol fire stations, rushed to the location. However, strong currents hampered search efforts through the night, and neither Panchal nor his vehicle could be located initially.
It wasn’t until around 4 am on Thursday—after water levels had receded—that rescue teams were able to enter the drain and recover both the body and the motorcycle. The search and recovery operation lasted nearly 10 hours.
Police have registered a case of accidental death and initiated further investigation. Meanwhile, residents have voiced serious concerns over the lack of safety infrastructure in the area, blaming poor barricading and exposed drains for creating deadly hazards during heavy rains.