Ahmedabad Deluged: Over 8 Inches Of Rain Exposes AMC’s Multi-Crore Pre-Monsoon Claims As Posh Belts Submerge

A relentless downpour pounded Ahmedabad from Thursday morning through the evening, dumping an average of over 8 inches of rain across the metropolis and completely shattering the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) multi-crore pre-monsoon readiness claims. The western corridors bore the brunt of the atmospheric fury, with Bakrol recording a staggering 14.61 inches, closely followed by Sarkhej at 14.13 inches and Bopal at 12.72 inches.

A mere three-hour cloudburst-like spell brought 6 to 10 inches of precipitation in several pockets, leaving major residential and commercial stretches completely waterlogged. Posh localities including Bopal, Shela, Sarkhej, Vejalpur, Jodhpur, SG Highway, Prahladnagar, Vastrapur, Naranpura, and Paldi were submerged, turning roads into surging rivers and trapping commuters in massive gridlocks.

More than 10.50 inches of rain had been recorded by 9 PM.

Residential Areas Inundated With Sewage-Laced Floodwater

The worst-affected residential zones included Sterling City in Bopal, Shela, Jodhpur, Vejalpur, Makarba, and the housing blocks surrounding F.D. School in Juhapura. In many neighborhoods, stormwater mixed with overflowing sewage channels poured directly into ground-floor houses, inundating homes under 1 to 2 feet of filthy water. Residents suffered massive property damage as furniture, electronic appliances, and household goods were ruined.

Commercial hubs and key arterial roads across Nikol, Ramol, Vastral, Maninagar, CTM, Isanpur, Naroda, Dastan, and the Palladium Mall stretch saw knee-deep waterlogging. The floodwaters stalled public transport vehicles, including an AMTS bus that broke down near the flooded Mithakhali underpass.

A total of 102 complaints were received regarding waterlogging in the city. Out of the 148 previously identified waterlogging spots, waterlogging occurred at 82 locations, while 66 locations remained free of water. Due to relatively lower rainfall in the East, North, Central, and South zones, most of these areas did not experience severe waterlogging.

Underpasses Shut Down, BRTS Services Paralysed, AEC Bridge Gridlocked

The intense rainfall forced municipal authorities to close eight key underpasses twice during the day—first during the morning cloudburst and again in the evening as heavy rains returned:

• Makarba
• Mithakhali
• Kubernagar
• Parimal
• Shahibaug
• Jalaram
• Dakhshini

Traffic came to a complete standstill on the AEC Bridge after deep water accumulation blocked lanes. Over half the bridge was jammed with vehicles, trapping five to six school buses and hundreds of commuters for nearly two hours.

Meanwhile, the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) faced severe disruptions. Operations were suspended at 18 major stations after water inundated platforms at Hanumanpura, Akhbarnagar, Memnagar, Manekbaug, Karnavati Club, Sarkhej Circle, Swaminarayan College, Chhipa Society, Science City Approach, Arvind Mill, Mukesh Industry, Bopal Gam, Little Wing, Chitavan to SoBo Center, Ghuma Gam, Odhav Fire Station, Chhotalal ni Chali, and Soma Textile.

Dramatic Rescues As Walls Collapse And Trees Fall

Emergency teams from the Fire Department worked round the clock to conduct life-saving rescues across inundated zones:

• School Children Evacuated: Firefighters safely rescued 40 schoolchildren trapped inside a flooded school campus in Makarba.
• Stranded Youths Saved: Three boys trapped in deep stormwater accumulation near the Tekri area by Gota Crematorium were brought to safety.
• Lake Wall Collapse: The collapse of the Khodiyar Temple lake boundary wall in Bopal sent a torrent of water rushing into nearby streets, sweeping away three cars. Fire teams rescued the occupants.
• Property Damage: In Jodhpur, a boundary wall collapse at Agrawal Tower damaged four cars, a tempo, and an auto-rickshaw. No casualties were reported.

Severe squalls accompanying the downpour uprooted over 70 trees and large branches across key stretches including Navrangpura, Naranpura, Paldi, Vasna, C.G. Road, Premchandnagar Road, and the SG Highway. Near Haran Circle in Jodhpur, road access was completely blocked until AMC deployed 183 workers and 47 clearance vehicles to remove debris.

Multi-Crore Stormwater Projects Fail The First Test

The widespread flooding exposed major execution gaps in the civic body's infrastructure drive. Multi-crore projects meant to upgrade stormwater pumping stations and lay new drainage lines remained largely on paper or incomplete, preventing efficient water discharge.

As hundreds of two-wheelers and cars broke down on flooded roads, stranded motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles. In a display of civic solidarity, several local garage mechanics stepped up to offer free repairs and assistance to stranded commuters rather than overcharging them.

Addressing the media, the Municipal Commissioner acknowledged that waterlogging was reported at 80 locations in the North-West Zone and 24 locations in the South-West Zone. "Civic teams are actively working on the ground deploying dewatering pumps to clear affected pockets," the Commissioner stated, adding a word of caution: "With the weather department forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours, citizens are advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel."

Rainfall Statistics Across Ahmedabad (In Inches)