Heavy rains expose infrastructure flaws: roads collapse amid severe flooding in western India
by Aditi VermaHeavy rains in western India’s Gujarat have revealed significant infrastructural weaknesses, with roads collapsing and severe waterlogging disrupting daily life in multiple cities.
The incident took place at Shela area in Ahmedabad on June 30.
Visuals showed a section of the road had caved in due to continuous and heavy rainfall, creating a large, gaping hole. The rainwater was pouring into this cavity, making it appear both menacing and dangerous.
The torrential downpour led to the collapse of a road in Ahmedabad’s Shela area, illustrating the intensity of the rain and the resulting damage.
Gujarat experienced widespread heavy rainfall on Sunday, June 30, causing substantial waterlogging in low-lying areas of cities like Ahmedabad and Surat. This led to significant disruptions in traffic. In just ten hours, Palasana Taluka in Surat district recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 153 mm. Other areas, including Surat, Bhuj, Vapi, Bharuch, and Ahmedabad, also experienced severe flooding, impacting transportation and accessibility.
Some streets and underpasses were rendered impassable due to the accumulation of water. The Shela area in Ahmedabad witnessed a dramatic road collapse caused by the heavy rains, with videos showing the road giving way. Fortunately, there were no major accidents reported.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that the heavy rains will continue for the next four days. Between 6 AM and 4 PM on Sunday, 43 talukas received over 40 mm of rain. Palasana Taluka reported 153 mm of rainfall, while Bardoli, Surat city, Kamrej, and Mahuva in Surat district recorded 135 mm, 123 mm, 120 mm.