Rajkot: A mere one hour of intense rainfall, measuring 50 mm, brought Rajkot city to a grinding halt on Wednesday, inundating several major roads and leaving commuters stranded. Among the worst affected was the 150 Feet Ring Road — touted as a model road — which was submerged entirely, resulting in hours-long traffic snarls.Key arterial roads including Yagnik Road, Kalawad Road, Raiya Road, Gondal Road, the Raiya Telephone Exchange area, and Hanuman Madhi witnessed knee-deep water accumulation. Several vehicles broke down mid-route, adding to the chaos and causing significant inconvenience to residents.The situation was further aggravated by non-functional traffic signals and the absence of on-ground traffic personnel. Traffic remained paralysed along the stretch from Madhapar Chokdi to KKV Hall on the 150 Feet Ring Road, where jams persisted for several hours.Heavy rainfall was not limited to Rajkot city. Other parts of the district, including Upleta, Sardhar, Moti Paneli, Dhoraji, and Tramba, also recorded substantial precipitation. The downpour extended across large parts of the Saurashtra region, notably impacting Gir Somnath and Junagadh districts.In Gir forest, the Kankai temple was submerged after a nearby river overflowed. Several rivers in the coastal districts are currently in spate, leading to flood-like conditions in many areas. In Junagadh district, towns such as Keshod, Visavadar, and Maliya Hatina have been severely affected. Low-lying areas of Keshod, including Yogi Nagar, Ranchod Nagar, and Krushna Nagar, are under water.Rescue operations were carried out in Gir Somnath after six tourists from Diu were stranded near the Jamjir waterfall due to rapidly rising water levels. Fire brigade teams from Kodinar and Veraval managed to rescue all six individuals safely.Surendranagar town also reported extensive waterlogging, with roads like Tower Road, Hospital Road, Vadilal Chowk, and the Ambedkarnagar underpass submerged. Rainfall was recorded in parts of Devbhumi Dwarka as well. Authorities have begun monitoring the situation closely, with more rainfall expected in the coming days.
