Water Level Nears Danger Mark In Dams of Vadodara, Authorities on Alert

Vadodara: As Vadodara continues to receive heavy rainfall, water levels in the Ajwa reservoir and Vishwamitri river have registered a sharp rise. However, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has decided not to release any water from the reservoir into the river, a decision which has been welcomed by local residents. 

Since Friday night, the Ajwa reservoir has been accumulating runoff from various areas in Vadodara and Panchmahal districts, in addition to receiving intermittent rainfall in the days leading up to it.

No Water To Discharged As of Now

VMC officials said that they are actively monitoring the situation amid ongoing rainfall. 

“By Saturday afternoon, the water level in the Ajwa reservoir increased to 212.20 feet by 6 PM, up from 212.05 feet at noon. Vishwamitri River rose from 16.4 feet at noon on Friday to 17.25 feet by 6 PM. Currently, there is no discharge from the Ajwa reservoir into the river,” officials said. 

Although the Vishwamitri remained below its danger mark of 26 feet, certain areas, including Indiranagar, were at risk of flooding.

"The water enters some low-lying areas when the river reaches 22 feet. We will arrange for buses for these areas if the river reaches that level and shelter will be kept ready," VMC commissioner Dilip Kumar Rana told mediapersons at the city command and control centre.

Meanwhile, vegetable prices have surged in Ahmedabad, Gujarat , due to the heavy rainfall affecting the state. In another development, a 34-year-old home guard named Devesh tragically lost his life after being swept away by the intense rains. The body of the home guard was recovered by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), as confirmed by NDRF officials on Sunday.