Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited several rain-affected areas of Ahmedabad, including Santosha Park Society in Ambli and Hari Om Villa and Iskcon Green Society in Ghuma, to assess the situation following heavy rainfall over the past two days.
During his visit, the Chief Minister personally stepped into waterlogged areas to assess the difficulties faced by residents and interacted with citizens to understand the ground situation. Ahmedabad district in-charge minister Rushikesh Patel was also present.
Later, CM Bhupendra Patel chaired a detailed review meeting with senior officials from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, police and other departments. Officials briefed him on the ongoing efforts to address waterlogging, potholes, fallen trees and road settlement-related complaints.
Ahmedabad has recorded a seasonal rainfall total of 18.42 inches (457.31 mm) following continuous heavy rain over the past two days. Heavy rainfall was reported in areas including Bakrol, Bopal, Sarkhej Urban and Jodhpur. In view of the situation, 22 gates of the Vasna Barrage have been opened.
To ensure the rapid drainage of rainwater, 245 pumps at 42 storm-water pumping stations and 305 pumps at 83 drainage pumping stations are operating at full capacity. In low-lying areas, 40 vehicle-mounted heavy dewatering pumps, known as Varun pumps, have also been deployed.
The AMC has deployed around 129 desilting teams, 400 workers, 72 tractors and Chhota Hathi vehicles, 8 JCB machines and 40 fighter pumps, along with Emergency Response Teams in every ward. The Garden Department has also completed the trimming of approximately 3,958 trees.
Officials said that continuous monitoring is being carried out from the Paldi Monsoon Control Room through the SCADA system, a real-time monitoring dashboard and 1,139 CCTV cameras.
For public safety, the Dakshini, Chandlodia and Chandkheda underpasses have been closed and will be reopened once conditions return to normal. Torrent Power and Traffic Police personnel are stationed at the control room to address power and traffic-related issues.
According to officials, 169 waterlogging complaints have been resolved, while work on 107 complaints is ongoing. Of the 67 complaints related to fallen trees, 43 have been resolved.
The Chief Minister directed officials to speed up relief operations and ensure that no society remains waterlogged. He also instructed authorities to take preventive measures to avoid similar situations during future heavy rainfall.
CM Bhupendra Patel further stressed the need to prioritise sanitation and public health activities in rain-affected areas.
The review meeting and inspection were attended by Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, Urban Development Department Principal Secretary Thennarasan, Additional Principal Secretary Vikrant Pandey, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot and other senior officials.
