Vadodara: Rescue operations for 150 students and workers from a flooded hostel were among the largest emergency responses triggered by heavy overnight rain in Vadodara district. Flooding and waterlogging prompted the administration to evacuate at least 350 people, distribute over 4,000 food packets, deploy hundreds of health teams and close 20 roads as a precaution.At Laxmi Hostel of Sumandeep Vidyapeeth near Waghodia, floodwaters rose to waist level, forcing authorities to evacuate 100 girls, 40 boys and 10 workers. They were shifted to safer accommodation. Pumps were deployed to drain floodwater from the campus.In Dabhoi taluka, the swollen Dhadhar river inundated Behrampura and Rajli villages, leading to the evacuation of 106 residents from Behrampura and 79 from Rajli. Temporary shelters were set up and food and drinking water were provided to the displaced families.Authorities also shifted around 15 residents from Tatarpura village after water entered residential areas. As a precaution, gram panchayat records were moved to a safer location, while the Shankarpura causeway was closed after going under water.An unusual incident was reported near Samsapura village, where the body of a tanker became lodged against a bridge over the Dhadhar river, obstructing the water flow. The obstruction was removed using an earthmover.With floodwaters affecting several stretches, the roads and buildings Department closed 20 roads across Vadodara district, including key routes in Padra, Karjan, Dabhoi, Savli, Sankheda and Waghodia talukas after water flowed over bridges, causeways and low-lying stretches.As floodwaters began receding in some areas, the district administration launched relief operations in the worst-affected villages of Dabhoi taluka. Teams distributed more than 4,000 food packets and drinking water bottles in villages. As many as 361 medical and paramedical teams carried out house-to-house surveys, examined 372 pregnant women, and shifted around 120 expectant mothers from vulnerable riverbank villages to hospitals as a precaution. Officials said 86 safe deliveries were conducted during the ongoing monsoon preparedness exercise.Vadodara district collector Anil Dhameliya visited Dev Dam late Friday night to review gate operations and monitor inflows following heavy rainfall in the upstream catchment.
