Ahmedabad: It was a record day of rainy horror that brought Ahmedabad to its knees. City was pummeled by 296 mm rain which is the fourth highest rain in 24 hours in the city in the past 100 years.As per India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the highest rain recorded in the city was 414.8 mm in 1927. Second highest is the July 2000 deluge of 325.9 mm. Third highest rain of 322.3 mm was recorded in 1967.Thursday will be marked as a red-letter for Ahmedabad when the record deluge unleashed an unprecedented crisis of water flooding residential and industrial areas, throwing life totally out of gear.Most affected areas were Bopal pummeled by 467 mm rain, Bakrol 462.5 mm, Jodhpur 418 mm, Sarkhej 416 mm and Thaltej 408 mm.Defence sources said that four columns of Indian Army along with NDRF, SDRF and Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services teams undertook large-scale operations to rescue 200 plus people stranded in their homes in plush neighbourhoods of Bopal, Ghuma, Shela etc.In Sentosa Parks bungalows, an ultra-luxurious residential scheme in Bopal, 50-off residents were rescued from their flooded bungalows in boats to safety.Chief minister Bhupendra Patel visited heavily water-logged areas in west Ahmedabad on Friday morning. Navigating flood waters on foot, the CM interacted with affected locals. Later, he chaired a meeting with officials later and directed to ensure flood waters are cleared by 6 pm, Friday.Nearly 900 people stranded at Gallops Industrial Park near Bavla were evacuated as floodwaters entered residential areas. Estimated 45 shops in the Indraprastha Complex in Gurukul drowned in flood waters.Pathik Patwari, ex-president, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries former president, pegged production losses due to two days of rain at 1,000 crore as factory operations were severely crippled due to flooding.Top city clubs namely Gujarat Sports Club struggled with rain waters even as flood waters surrounded Karnavati and Rajpath Clubs.Ahmedabad Municipal commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani said of the rains, “This is the first time in more than 20 years that western Ahmedabad received such heavy rain in 24 hours. Rain continued on Friday and AMC is making best efforts for rescue and relief.”
