Ahmedabad flooded in just two hours of rain

AHMEDABAD: The monsoon preparedness of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation washed away in just two hours of rain as almost all underpasses became closed for traffic. A wall collapse was reported from Mithakhali underpass which was recently opened after widening.
The city reported heavy rains between 4pm and 6pm on Monday. The highest rainfall in city for the day, 74mm, was reported from Gota, followed by 66.5mm in Bodakdev area. The heavy rains once again led to waterlogging in at least eight places and five incident of tree uprooting were reported from the West and North-West zones of the city. Waterlogging was reported from near Vastrapur and Panchkrut Apartment in the North-West zone and waterlogging was reported from Helmet Crossroads, AEC Crossroads, Pallav Crossroads and Ankur Crossroads in the West Zone. Helmet and AEC crosrroads have been reporting waterlogging every year.
AMC officials said two trees were uprooted near Ashram Road - one near City Gold and one near Bata showroom. Another tree was uprooted near the passport office.
The city reported 30.97mm of rain on Monday, and since June 1 it has received 76.48mm of rain. Officials said 3,322 cusecs of water was released from Vasna Barrage, and as the flow increased in the river the AMC and irrigation department decided to release water downstream.
The weather officials said that the maximum temperature came down to 36.8C which was 3.9 degree below normal, while the minimum temperature that is the night temperature was 26C which was also 2 degree below normal.
IMD officials said that an upper-air cyclonic circulation over Gujarat and neighbourhood areas persisted on Monday. Heavy rainfall was recorded in parts of Amreli and Jamnagar in past 24 hours, they added.
“Thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty wind (30-40 kmph) could be expected on Tuesday in almost all districts of Gujarat. Heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Surendranagar, Morbi, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Botad, Jamnagar and Kutch on Tuesday,” said an IMD official.
Wall Collapse at Mithakhali
At least 10 feet of a boundary wall of Mithakhali underpass toward the side coming from Mithakhali to Ashram Road collapsed. No one was reported injured.
AMC officials rushed to the spot and cleared the area immediately. However, a residential society is situated adjacent to the damaged wall. Officials said further rain can wash off the mud and earth, and the nearby flats, which are vacant, may collapse. Staff from the road project were rushed to the spot and work for protection of the wall has begun on a war footing.
Underpasses Closed
AMC staff said that all underpasses in the city including the Shahibaugh underpass which leads to the airport were closed for traffic on Monday during rain. The waterlogging was cleared soon after rain stopped.
Boy injured as tree falls on him
A 13-year-old boy suffered injuries on his head as a tree fell on him when he was walking near Sutharwava locality in the Gomtipur area of the city on Monday. The boy, Sabir Maniar, a resident of Samsherbaug in Gomtipur, was taken to Shardaben hospital in Saraspur where he received 10 stitches on his head. A local councillor Iqbal Shaikh demanded an inquiry against erring officers of garden department alleging that various representations have been made to trim tree branches but no actions were taken.