Ahmedabad: Three people, including an elderly woman, who were stranded in floodwaters for nearly 11 hours on the outskirts of Ahmedabad were rescued in the early hours of Friday after a joint overnight operation by the district administration and Ahmedabad Rural Police, as heavy rain continued to disrupt normal life across the city and surrounding areas.
According to Ahmedabad Rural Police, the three individuals had been trapped in rising floodwaters from around 3 p.m. on Thursday after continuous rainfall created severe waterlogging.
Their condition became increasingly critical as darkness fell and the adverse weather hampered rescue efforts.
Following information about the incident, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Dholka, the Police Inspector of Dholka Rural Police Station and district administration officials coordinated a rescue operation despite heavy rain and poor visibility.
At around 2 a.m., the rescue team reached the stranded group by boat and safely evacuated all three people to a secure location.
The police added: “This successful rescue operation is an excellent example of the district administration’s and Ahmedabad Rural Police’s prompt response, effective coordination, and commitment to protecting human life.”
Heavy rainfall continued to affect Ahmedabad on Friday, with the Bopal-Ghuma area recording 491 mm (19.64 inches) of rain since morning.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said rapid water drainage operations were being carried out on a war footing in the flooded localities, while rescue and relief efforts had also been intensified.
The rain also disrupted road connectivity. Ahmedabad Rural Police said the Bangodara-Sanathal Highway had been closed to traffic, with diversions put in place for commuters.
Traffic authorities said several underpasses remained operational despite the rain. The Income Tax, Usmanpura, Nirnay Nagar and Pragatinagar underpasses were fully open, while the Mithakhali underpass was functioning with a single lane.
Motorists were advised to use the Navrangpura, Naranpura and Vijay railway crossings if rainfall intensified further.
Additional flood response resources were also being deployed in the district. According to a message issued for the State Emergency Operations Centre, discussions were held with the Ahmedabad Collector regarding the requirement for de-flooding equipment at Bavla Industrial Park.
A disaster response team from Okha, equipped with two 40-tonnes-per-hour dewatering pumps, two submersible pumps, life-saving equipment, food packets, drinking water and first-aid supplies, was dispatched and is expected to reach the site by afternoon.
Meanwhile, the AMC’s Fire and Emergency Services Department said it had responded to 132 emergency calls between Thursday and 10 a.m. on Friday.
The calls included 36 rescue operations, 16 structural collapse incidents, 53 reports of fallen trees and 27 fire-related emergencies.
On Thursday alone, the department handled 109 incidents, including 26 rescues, 13 structural collapses, 48 fallen trees and 22 fire calls.
A further 23 calls were attended between midnight and 10 a.m. on Thursday, comprising 10 rescues, three structural collapses, five tree fall incidents and five fire calls.
The civic body said its Fire and Emergency Services teams remained on round-the-clock alert, responding to rescue operations, structural emergencies, fallen trees and fire incidents as heavy rainfall continued across Ahmedabad.
(IANS)
