More Than Thousand Rescued After Record Rain In Vadodara

More than 1,000 people have been rescued in Vadodara after record rainfall disrupted normal life in the city on Wednesday. 

The fire brigade, Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) evacuated around 1,000 people from the city and surrounding villages using boats and tractors, and shifted them to safer places, an statement said. 

Water of the Vishwamitri river, which passes through the Vadodara, entered low-lying areas of the city after Ajwa dam overflowed, officials said, adding that people living in these areas are being evacuated

Train services have been hit and airport remains shut in Vadodara. All schools and colleges in Vadodara are closed today.

The city recorded 554 m rainfall in 12 hours on Wednesday, the highest-ever it has received.

Vadodara, which is in central Gujarat, received the record rainfall between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm, said a statement by the state government. Of this, 286 mm of rain was received in just four hours ending at 8.00 pm.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at a review meet on Wednesday asked two IAS officers - Vinod Rao and Lochan Sehra -to rush to the city to provide guidance to the local administration in tackling the situation, the statement read

This morning, Western Railways tweeted that several trains were cancelled or diverted "due to waterlogging".

Psngrs may kindly note the cancellation of trains on 1/8/19 due to short termination of pairing rakes on 31/7/19 due to water logging at Vadodara following heavy rains. Pls dial 139 or click on https://t.co/I6LcHIGE16 for train status. pic.twitter.com/JBl5wwMWO8

— Western Railway (@WesternRly) August 1, 2019

DUE TO WATER LOGGING AT VADODAR, NOW FOLLOWING DIVERTED TRAINS WILL RUN ON PROPER PATH.12833 (AHMEDABAD-HOWRAH) JCO 31.07.19, 17037 (SECUNDERABAD-HISAR) JCO 30.07.19,16336(NAGARCOIL-GHANDHIDHAM) JCO 30.07.19 & 16210(MYSURU-AJMER)-JCO 30.07.19 @DRMBRCWR @drmadiwr @RailMinIndia

— Western Railway (@WesternRly) August 1, 2019

The situation is likely to improve today. "Rain will continue in Vadodara but intensity will be lesser. Another heavy spell of rain in Vadodara is expected on August 2 and August 3 and also the eastern districts of the state," Mahesh Pandey, Vice President, Skymet, told NDTV.

"This may hamper the relief work," he added.

Today is the fifth consecutive day of heavy rainfall in Gujarat.

(With inputs from PTI)