Following the recent torrential rains in Ahmedabad, traffic police towed more than 1,200 abandoned vehicles free of cost after nearly 2,000 cars and two-wheelers were left stranded across the city. Most owners abandoned their vehicles after engines stalled or they became trapped in waterlogged areas.
The large-scale operation was launched to prevent the stranded vehicles from obstructing traffic and posing safety risks. Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut said the exercise was not limited to clearing roads.
Using vehicle registration records, traffic police traced the owners and contacted them, asking them to collect their vehicles personally or through authorised repair workshops. Gahlaut said abandoned vehicles had become a major road safety hazard, especially at night, when motorists could have collided with them.
Many vehicle owners chose to leave their stalled vehicles rather than attempt to drive through floodwaters. However, once the water receded, the vehicles became obstacles for traffic movement and emergency response teams.
40 Cranes Pressed into Service
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) A.G. Chauhan said 40 traffic cranes were deployed across Ahmedabad to remove stranded vehicles.
The cranes towed vehicles abandoned on roads, near dividers and carriageways to ensure smooth traffic flow and eliminate potential hazards after the floodwaters receded.
In western Ahmedabad, teams led by DCP Bhavna Patel simultaneously managed traffic regulation and rescue operations across SG Highway, Shela, Bopal, Sindhu Bhavan Road, Vastrapur and Bodakdev.