Just one hour of intense rainfall on Wednesday evening was enough to expose the glaring shortcomings in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s ₹841.45 crore ‘monsoon action plan’. The downpour caused severe waterlogging across several parts of the city, leading to traffic chaos, property damage, and even loss of life.
Between 7 pm and 8 pm, Maninagar alone recorded over two inches of rain. Over a nine-hour span, areas like Maninagar and Odhav received nearly four inches, flooding major pockets of East Ahmedabad including Vatva, Chakudiya, Viratnagar, Nikol, Ramol, and Kathwada.
Tragedy in Odhav: Man Swept Away
In one of the most tragic incidents of the night, a 45-year-old man, Manubhai Panchal, was swept into a drainage line near Ambikanagar in Odhav while riding his bike. A search operation by the fire department lasted nearly nine hours, and his body was found about 200 feet from the point where he was swept away. A video of the incident surfaced, showing the man unknowingly riding straight into the open drainage.
Even the vicinity of the Odhav Fire Station was inundated, with waist-deep water reported in several areas. Underpasses in Maninagar South, Kubernagar, and Mithakhali were shut due to heavy water accumulation.
City Paralyzed: Homes Flooded, Traffic Stranded
Residents of low-lying areas saw water rushing into their homes and shops. Videos from Maninagar showed rainwater pouring into residential and commercial spaces, sparking widespread outrage on social media against the AMC’s preparedness.
Office-goers were stranded for hours. Several vehicles broke down under the Hatkeshwar Bridge, one of the worst-affected zones. “It took me two hours to drive just 15 km from Corporate Road to Ghodasar,” said a commuter from CTM Crossroads. Another, standing waist-deep in floodwater, remarked, “Khabar nai aje Amdavad kyare ghare pohochshe?” (“Don’t know when Amdavadis will get home today?”).
Rescue Ops and More Drowning Cases
At 8:54 pm, the fire department received a distress call about a drowning near Ambikanagar, leading to a search and rescue operation. In another incident, a youth reportedly fell into a water-filled pit near Mogal Mata Temple in Odhav, prompting another emergency response.
Waterlogging was also reported in Kubernagar, Bhargav Road, Bangla area, and parts of Naroda. Around 9:15 pm, Bopal experienced another spell of intense rain with thunder and lightning.
Area-Wise Rainfall on Wednesday (in mm):
| Area | Rainfall (mm) | Area | Rainfall (mm) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maninagar | 121 | Vatva | 58 | |
| Odhav | 109 | Paldi | 38 | |
| Chakudiya | 100 | Usmanpura | 43 | |
| Viratnagar | 80 | Vasna | 30 | |
| Nikol | 72 | Chandkheda | 17 | |
| Ramol | 60 | Ranip | 20 | |
| Kathwada | 32 | Bodakdev | 25 | |
| Danapith | 57 | Maktampura | 26 | |
| Dudheshwar | 50 | Sarkhej | 18 | |
| Memco | 90 | Jodhpur | 21 | |
| Naroda | 63 | Kotarpur | 27 |
Citywide Average: 48.22 mm
Season Total (So Far): 12.84 inches
Despite the hefty budget and tall promises, Wednesday’s downpour revealed that much remains to be done to make Ahmedabad monsoon-ready.