Sabarmati's Flow Halted For Repairs, Sparking An Unprecedented 'Gold Rush'

The iconic Sabarmati Riverfront, usually a picturesque hub of tourism and leisure, has transformed into a massive excavation site as thousands of people have descended upon the dry riverbed in a frantic search for discarded gold, silver, and scrap metal. The river, which serves as the heart of Ahmedabad and is home to the famous Atal Bridge and lush riverfront gardens, has been temporarily drained. Authorities at the Vasna Barrage halted the water flow to facilitate essential maintenance work on the barrage gates, leaving the city's primary waterway nearly bone-dry.