Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel visits flood-hit Ahmedabad, orders war-footing relief
Synopsis
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel waded into flooded Bopal streets on foot to assess damage firsthand — a rare ground-level move that signals the severity of Ahmedabad's waterlogging crisis. With 166 emergency complaints handled and a state-level review meeting still ahead, the administration is under pressure to prevent urban flooding from becoming a recurring monsoon failure.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel personally visited flood-affected Bopal, Ambli and Ghuma in Ahmedabad on Friday, 25 July .
He entered inundated areas on foot and directed officials to resolve waterlogging on a war footing , ensuring no residential society remains submerged.
A high-level review meeting was chaired with Mayor Hitesh Barot , Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani , and other senior officials.
The AMC handled 166 complaints — 129 fallen trees and 52 fallen branches — with all roads cleared and traffic restored.
CM Patel was further scheduled to review the state's overall rainfall situation at the State Emergency Operation Centre the same day.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday, 25 July conducted a ground-level inspection of flood-affected localities in Ahmedabad, personally wading into inundated streets in Bopal to assess the scale of damage caused by heavy rainfall. He subsequently visited Ambli and Ghuma, where severe waterlogging has disrupted residential life, and directed authorities to accelerate relief and drainage operations on a war footing.
What the Chief Minister Found on the Ground
In Bopal, CM Patel entered the flooded locality on foot, interacted directly with affected residents, and reviewed the progress of drainage and rescue work alongside senior officials at the site. He instructed authorities to ensure the immediate deployment of adequate manpower, equipment, and resources, and made clear that no residential society should remain inundated.
The Chief Minister also directed that once floodwaters recede, cleanliness drives and public health measures must be prioritised in all affected areas to prevent secondary health hazards — a concern that typically follows urban flooding of this scale.
High-Level Review Meeting Convened
Following the field visits, CM Patel chaired a review meeting in Ahmedabad attended by Cabinet Minister Rushikesh Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, and senior officials from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the police, and other departments. The Chief Minister assessed the extent of rainwater accumulation across different parts of the city and directed officials to address resident grievances on priority.
Officials briefed him that complaints related to waterlogging, fallen trees, road settlement, and other rain-related incidents were being attended to on a priority basis.
AMC Emergency Response: 166 Complaints Handled
The AMC reported that its emergency response teams handled 166 complaints related to fallen trees and branches during the heavy rainfall — comprising 129 incidents of fallen trees and 52 incidents of fallen branches. The civic body confirmed that no roads in the city remained closed due to fallen trees after clearance operations restored traffic movement.
According to officials, Garden Department teams equipped with manpower and machinery were deployed across the West, East, North-West, South-West, Central and South Zones for continuous patrolling. Work was continuing at one location in Shahibaug, though traffic movement there remained unaffected. The AMC's 24-hour response system remained active throughout the adverse weather.
What Comes Next
CM Patel was also scheduled to chair a review meeting of the state's overall rainfall situation at the State Emergency Operation Centre later the same day. With the monsoon season still active, authorities are on alert for further heavy spells. This visit underscores the political and administrative pressure on state machinery to demonstrate visible, rapid response in urban flood situations — particularly in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest city.
Point of View
But the Ahmedabad flooding raises a harder question: why does India's fifth-largest city still face severe waterlogging after years of Smart City investments? The AMC's 166-complaint tally and the directive to work on a 'war footing' suggest the drainage infrastructure has not kept pace with the city's growth. Until urban flood resilience is treated as a year-round engineering priority rather than a monsoon-season emergency, these CM visits will remain a ritual rather than a remedy.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel visit Ahmedabad on Friday?
CM Bhupendra Patel visited flood-affected localities in Ahmedabad on Friday to personally assess waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall in areas including Bopal, Ambli, and Ghuma. He directed officials to speed up relief, drainage, and rescue operations on a war footing.
Which areas of Ahmedabad were worst affected by the flooding?
Bopal, Ambli, and Ghuma were among the localities most severely affected, with heavy rainfall leading to significant waterlogging in residential areas. CM Patel entered the flooded streets of Bopal on foot to review the situation firsthand.
How many complaints did the AMC handle during the heavy rainfall?
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation handled 166 complaints related to fallen trees and branches — 129 fallen trees and 52 fallen branches. All affected roads were cleared and traffic restored after rapid response operations.
Who attended the review meeting chaired by CM Patel?
The review meeting was attended by Cabinet Minister Rushikesh Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, and senior officials from the AMC, police, and other departments.
What further action is planned after the CM's visit?
CM Patel was scheduled to chair an additional review of the state's overall rainfall situation at the State Emergency Operation Centre later the same day. Officials were also directed to prioritise cleanliness and public health measures once floodwaters recede.
