Heavy rainfall in Surat inundated the ANTM Market in the Godadara area, leaving traders scrambling to protect goods worth crores of rupees from floodwaters.
With rainwater accumulating rapidly on the road outside the market, shopkeepers erected makeshift barricades using wooden planks and other materials to stop water from entering their ground-floor shops. Many were also seen pumping out water as they worked on a war footing to prevent damage to their merchandise.
The flooding severely disrupted traffic in the area. A truck got stranded on the waterlogged road, while several cars, tempos and other vehicles were partially submerged, causing major inconvenience to commuters and bringing traffic to a standstill.
The downpour has affected normal life in Surat for the second consecutive day and has also hit the city’s textile trade, one of its key industries. Traders said they faced an uphill task protecting stock stored in parking areas and ground-floor units as water levels continued to rise.
The widespread waterlogging has once again raised questions over the Surat Municipal Corporation’s pre-monsoon preparedness. Despite annual claims of drain desilting and measures to ensure quick water clearance, several parts of the city, including Godadara, witnessed severe flooding after the first spell of heavy rain. Civic authorities, however, maintained that the intensity of the rainfall was responsible for the waterlogging, adding that teams were working to address the situation.