Vadodara: Barodians woke up to a downpour on Monday morning. The skies had been overcast since Sunday and the weather department had forecast heavy rains on Monday.
A light drizzle at the crack of the dawn soon turned into a downpour that continued for a few hours.
The district administration said Vadodara city received two inches of rain in four hours on Monday. Heavy to very heavy rains have been forecast for the next 24 hours in the city.
Roads in the walled city were flooded knee-deep, forcing many office-goers to take circuitous detours. Many shops along Mandvi Road stayed closed till noon, when the waters receded a bit. Traffic cops waded through waterlogged roads to guide commuters. In western parts of the city, many residential colonies at Old Padra Road, Alkapuri and Akota were waterlogged. Main roads witnessed traffic jams as police struggled to smoothen vehicle flow.
R C Dutt Road, the posh areas home to several shopping complexes and malls, was also waterlogged for a few hours. The heavy rain brought crocodiles on to the roads. A four-foot crocodile was seen at Polo Ground, right opposite Baroda High School, Bagikhana, early on Monday morning. Forest officials rushed to the spot and rescued it.
A three-foot crocodile was rescued from the bandstand area in Sayajibaug late on Sunday night. The rural areas of Vadodara taluka, Padra and Karjan also received heavy rain.
A private bus got stuck on a waterlogged road in Padra and locals had to push it to safety. Vadodara district received 516mm of rain in the last 24 hours. District collector Shalini Agrawal said they are monitoring the situation and there is no cause for panic. Water levels in the Vishwamitri and Ajwa lake were below the danger mark.
The heavily waterlogged MG Road in the city
