Ahmedabad Rains: Extremely Heavy Downpour Forecast, Schools and Colleges to Remain Shut on July 24
Ahmedabad has been lashed by heavy rain since early morning, with the city’s southwest and northwest zones bearing the brunt of it. Large parts of the city are waterlogged, leaving thousands of commuters stranded on their way to work, and several vehicles have stalled in flooded streets. Residents have been advised to avoid stepping out unless necessary.
Schools, Colleges to Stay Shut Friday
With the India Meteorological Department forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rain, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has ordered all schools and colleges in the city to remain closed on Friday, July 24, 2026, as a precautionary measure.
Underpasses Reopen as Water Recedes — Then Close Again
As the rain’s intensity eased through the day, water receded at the Shahibaug, Nirnay Nagar, and Usmanpura underpasses, allowing them to reopen to traffic and offering commuters some relief. However, conditions worsened again later, and authorities were forced to shut Usmanpura once more by 11 am, along with Makarba, Akhbarnagar, Mithakhali, Parimal, and Shahibaug underpasses, as a safety measure.
Bopal’s Sterling City Sees Flooded Bungalows
In Bopal’s upscale Sterling City society, rainwater entered multi-crore bungalows, flooding ground floors and compounds. Residents in Sectors 1 and 2 reported knee-deep water inside their societies, leaving many stranded at home as belongings were damaged and internal roads turned into waterways.
Shivranjani Crossroads Under 3-4 Feet of Water
Continuous rain left Shivranjani crossroads, one of the city’s major junctions, under three to four feet of water, worsened by sewage backing up alongside the rainwater. Several vehicles broke down and police were deployed to manage traffic and slowly clear the area.
Shela, Ghuma, Bopal Under Waist-Deep Water
Shela, Ghuma, and Bopal saw waist-deep flooding, cutting off roads and trapping residents indoors. Locals criticized the civic administration over inadequate drainage and demanded urgent action to clear the water.
Rain Disrupts Court Proceedings
The downpour also affected court functioning in the city. With roads blocked, lawyers appealed to judges to defer proceedings since litigants and advocates could not reach court on time, requesting that lower courts excuse absences and avoid passing any adverse orders as a result.
Also Read:South Gujarat Soaked : Flooding Forces Evacuations In Valsad, Road Closures In Tapi
Children Rescued in Sarkhej’s Shrinandnagar
In Sarkhej’s Shrinandnagar area, waist-deep water trapped several residents in their homes and on the streets. Local MLA Amit Thakkar visited the site, assessed the situation, and had schoolchildren stranded at a nearby school safely evacuated, speaking with them to reassure them.
CM’s Convoy Held Up in Traffic
The Chief Minister’s convoy got stuck in traffic near Palladium Mall; traffic police opened a closed cut near the mall to let the convoy pass.
Sindhu Bhavan Road Submerged
One of the city’s most upscale and busy roads, Sindhu Bhavan Road, was left submerged, with several vehicles stalling in the water. The flooding on a marquee road in Ahmedabad’s “smart city” zone put the administration’s drainage efforts under scrutiny.
4 Inches of Rain in One Hour
Ahmedabad recorded roughly 4 inches of rainfall in a single hour, flooding homes and causing long traffic snarls across both the eastern and western parts of the city.
AMC Flags 15 Routes to Avoid
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation asked residents to avoid 15 major routes due to heavy waterlogging and shut several flooded underpasses as a safety precaution. The fire department began receiving emergency calls, including 10 for fallen trees, 2 for collapsed walls, and 8 other related calls.
Shilaj Village Flooded
Low-lying Shilaj village saw flooding on all sides, with water entering shops and damaging merchandise. Traders and residents voiced anger over the administration’s drainage performance.
Bus Stranded in Mithakhali Underpass
A bus got stuck in the flooded Mithakhali underpass after water levels rose sharply; authorities shut the underpass immediately for safety, causing heavy traffic congestion in the surrounding area.
Rainfall Data: 6 AM to 12 PM
By locality: Sarkhej – 7 inches; Bopal – 6 inches; Jodhpur Zonal – 6 inches; Jodhpur – 6 inches; Sarkhej Urban Health – 5 inches; Maktampura – 5 inches; Bakrol – 3 inches; Bodakdev – 5.5 inches; Thaltej – 5 inches; Science City – 5 inches; Memnagar – 5 inches; Chandlodia – 4 inches; Gota – 3.5 inches; Ognaj – 3.5 inches; Vasna – 4 inches; Navrangpura – 4 inches; Usmanpura – 4 inches; Ranip – 3.5 inches; Tagore Control – 3.5 inches; Motera – 2 inches; Chandkheda – 2 inches; Dudheshwar – 2 inches; Municipal Corporation – 2 inches; Kalupur – 2.5 inches; Asarwa – 1.5 inches; Lambha – 2 inches; Maninagar – 2 inches; Vatva – 2 inches.
By zone: South West Zone – 5 inches (highest); North West Zone – 4 inches; West Zone – 3.5 inches; Central Zone – 2.5 inches; South Zone – 2 inches; East Zone – 0.5 inch; North Zone – 0.5 inch.
Waterlogging Near Shantipura, Nilmani Gurukul Road
Societies near Shantipura Circle and Nilmani Gurukul Road were flooded, while Manav Mandir Road in Memnagar went completely underwater, stranding both drivers and pedestrians and exposing gaps in the administration’s pre-monsoon preparation.
5-6 School Buses Stuck on AEC Bridge
Heavy flooding on the AEC Bridge caused a long traffic jam stretching halfway across the bridge, stranding 5-6 school buses and numerous other vehicles. Flooding on the BRTS route also stalled BRTS buses, leaving commuters and schoolchildren returning home stuck in the rain.
Vasna Barrage Opens Six Gates
With the Sabarmati river’s water level nearing 129 feet, officials coordinated with the irrigation department to open six gates of the Vasna barrage and release excess water, aiming to bring the level down to 127 feet. Meanwhile, the Makarba, Akhbarnagar, Mithakhali, Parimal, Jalaram, and Shahibaug underpasses were fully closed for vehicle safety, while Usmanpura was partially closed by 11 am, disrupting traffic further.
City-Wide Disruption
Several roads remained submerged and closed, with waist-deep water reported on GMDC Road, Ghatlodia, Manav Mandir Road, Jodhpur, and Jivraj Park, among other areas.
Nirnay Nagar Underpass Under Waist-Deep Water
The Nirnay Nagar underpass filled with waist-deep water, forcing authorities to halt traffic entirely to prevent accidents and cutting off a key connecting route for the surrounding areas, leaving commuters and residents stranded.
Navrangpura Under Waist-Deep Water
Heavy rain left several major roads in Navrangpura submerged under waist-deep water, bringing traffic to a complete halt, with visuals showing vehicles swept away or stalled in the flooding.
S.G. Highway Worsens
The road opposite Karnavati Club and the area beside the newly built overbridge on S.G. Highway saw one-and-a-half to two feet of water, slowing traffic to a crawl and stalling multiple vehicles, drawing public anger over the administration’s pre-monsoon preparedness.
Road Near Lakhudi Lake Shut
Heavy waterlogging outside Lakhudi Lake brought traffic to a standstill, forcing authorities to close the road toward Usmanpura. With one-and-a-half to two feet of water on the road, several drivers were forced to turn back midway; commuters heading toward Usmanpura and Lakhudi Lake have been asked to use alternate routes.
New Vadaj Residents Angry Over Flooding
Heavy waterlogging near Bharat Mata Circle in New Vadaj disrupted traffic significantly. Residents expressed frustration that a newly built RCC road in the area flooded during the very first rain of the season.
Traffic Grinds to a Halt Citywide
Continuous rain over roughly two hours left knee-deep water across large parts of the city, including S.G. Highway, Vastrapur, Shivranjani, Bopal, Ghuma, Helmet Char Rasta, Gurukul, AEC Char Rasta, Naranpura, Shastrinagar, Akhbarnagar, New Vadaj, Shela, and Sarkhej.
In Makarba, waist-deep water brought traffic to a complete stop near the Makarba police headquarters, forcing the road to be closed and leaving people to wade through the water. Vastrapur also saw flooding severe enough that roads resembled flowing rivers, while at D-Cabin Kaligam, water entered the Kaligam Health Centre itself, causing difficulty for patients and medical staff.