River swells, city on edge

Vadodara: Vishwamitri River once again started swelling rapidly on Friday after water level increased by nearly seven foot within hours as Ajwa Lake began overflowing at about 213 feet due to heavy rain in the catchment area.
The civic authorities announced by 2pm that Vishwamitri level would rise and advised citizens to stay away from the river. By then, many offices had already allowed their employees to leave for the day while schools and colleges too sent students home. As a result of people rushing back home, the city roads witnessed heavy traffic late in the afternoon.
“As soon as I heard Vishwamitri water level was swelling, I left my workplace and headed home,” said Amisha Shah, a resident of New VIP Road.
Long queues were seen at milk parlours and vegetable markets as flood-wary residents rushed to stock up essentials.
The city received nearly 90mm rain between 6am and 8 pm on Friday, leaving roads leading to four gates in the Walled City submerged for some time.
Unlike on July 31, when it was caught snoozing, the district administration claimed that it is well prepared this time for all eventualities. “We have alerted low-lying areas and asked locals to be prepared to shift,” said Shalini Agrawal, municipal commissioner (in-charge).
Those areas put on alert include Sama, Kalali, Karelibaug, Vadsar and parts of Sayajigunj. Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have also been kept on standby as the administration was worried about the talukas that too received heavy rainfall on Friday.
In Savli, 700 persons were shifted after their locality got waterlogged on Friday while 22 persons from Shinor, 51 from Malsar and 22 from Karjan taluka too were taken to safer places as water levels went up in Narmada River.