Heavy rains cripple normal life in Vadodara

Vadodara, July 10 (UNI) Incessant rains crippled normal life in Vadodara city today as six of the 12 talukas in the eastern part of the district continued to reel under the threat of flash floods because of the rising Mahi and the Narmada rivers.

With heavy rains lashing Vadodara since this morning, most parts of the city, including the posh Alkapuri, J P Road, Manjalpur, Subhanpura and Ajwa Road reported severe water logging. Residents of about a dozen housing societies located in low-lying areas in and around the city bore the brunt of the rain fury, being forced to live in waist deep water at many places.

Offices and schools reported thin attendance as hundreds of people were stranded following the rains.

According to official sources, the situation in six eastern talukas of the district -- Savli, Vadodara rural, Padra, Dabhoi, Sinor and Karjan -- which were put on high alert following the overflow of the Narmada Dam and release of 300,000 cusecs of water from the Kadana dam into the Mahi river, has shown little improvement.

Yesterday, the authorities had evacuated over 1500 people from these flood-prone areas to safer places.

Reports said the inflow of water into the overflowing Narmada dam had decreased to 157,000 cusecs from over 250,000 cusecs yesterday.

The dam located at Kevadiaya colony was still overflowing by nearly two metres as against its crest level of 121.92 metres.

However, the flooded Mahi river which had posed a threat to Savli, Vadodara rural and Padra talukas, has reportedly shown a receding trend following some improvement in the situation in its catchment areas, the sources said.

UNI