India TV reported Nirnay Kapoor in waist-deep water
Train services were hit and airport remained shut in Vadodara on Thursday owing to the heavy rainfall the city has been receiving for the past few days.
Water from the overflowing Vishwamitri river entered several localities in the city, on Wednesday. Four labourers were killed when a wall collapsed due to heavy rain in Chhani area of Vadodara, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said.
Of the 554-m rainfall the city received in 12 hours on Wednesday -- the highest-ever it has received -- 286 mm was received in just four hours -- between 4 pm and 8 pm.
"Homes get flooded as record-breaking #Vadodara rains of 554 mm in 12 hours disrupt normal life," tweeted SkymetWeather.
To this end, all schools and colleges in Vadodara remained closed on Thursday.
This morning, Western Railways tweeted that several trains were cancelled or diverted "due to waterlogging".
Torrential rains also lashed other parts of the state, including central Gujarat.
Rescue operation
The fire brigade, Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have since evacuated around 1,000 people from the city and surrounding villages using boats and tractors, and shifted them to safer places, an official statement said.
As many as 5,000 people were evacuated in Gujarat in total.
Authorities have also set up a 24-hour emergency control room for assisting people in Vadodara.
The numbers are 18002330265, 0265 2423101 and 0265 2426101.
List of trains that stand cancelled in Vadodara
69176 Anand Bharuch MEMU
69175 Bharuch Anand MEMU
59101 Vadodara - Kathana Passenger
59102 Kathana - Vadodara Passenger
52034 Pratapnagar Jambusar NG Mixed Passenger
52033 Jambusar Pratapnagar NG Mixed Passenger
22928 Ahmedabad Mumbai Lokshakti Express
22927 Mumbai Ahmedabad Lokshakti Express
22137 Prerana Express
19031 Haridwar Mail
The next two days are expected to suffer another heavy spell of rainfall.
"Rain will continue in Vadodara but intensity will be lesser. Another heavy spell of rain in Vadodara is expected on August 2 and August 3 and also the eastern districts of the state," Mahesh Pandey, Vice President, Skymet, told NDTV.
