The railway underpass near Parshuram Bhatta in Vadodara’s Sayajiganj area was inundated with sewage water on Sunday despite there being no rainfall, disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience to commuters and nearby residents.
While the underpass is known to get waterlogged during heavy rain, residents said the latest incident was caused by overflowing sewage, leaving the area filled with foul-smelling water and raising concerns over the city’s drainage infrastructure.
The sewage overflow forced pedestrians and motorists to wade through the submerged stretch, with many risking their safety to cross the underpass. Residents alleged that no barricades or warning signs were placed to prevent people from entering the flooded area.
Congress worker Rakesh Thakor, who visited the site, claimed the underpass had been flooded with sewage rather than rainwater. He criticised the authorities for failing to cordon off the area and questioned who would be held accountable if the situation led to an accident or loss of life.
Locals said flooding at the railway underpass has become a recurring problem during the monsoon, but the accumulation of sewage water in the absence of rain points to a more serious civic issue. They said the incident has once again highlighted concerns over drainage maintenance and urban infrastructure in Vadodara, a city often promoted as a Smart City.