Ahmedabad's Flood Crisis: A Daunting Inheritance for New Municipal Corporators
As over 38 lakh citizens in Ahmedabad prepare to cast their votes to elect 192 new corporators for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the incoming council members are set to inherit one of the city's most persistent and deadly civic challenges: a worsening urban flood crisis that has stubbornly resisted costly interventions. Waterlogging has firmly established itself as the most pressing issue, with more than 140 spots across the city's 480 square kilometer area continuing to flood during monsoon seasons, overwhelming an extensive 1,010-kilometer stormwater network supported by 35 pumping stations.
Human Toll and Persistent Flooding Incidents
The severity of this crisis is underscored by tragic incidents that have claimed lives. Last year, five people died in rain-related accidents, including a patient in Kathwada who perished after an ambulance could not navigate flooded roads. In a separate event, a young man drowned in a water-filled pit in Odhav, while a resident in Dariapur was electrocuted by an exposed streetlight wire. Further highlighting the danger, a couple in Narol's Mutton Gali died from electrocution caused by waterlogging in September.
Despite the AMC identifying 125 waterlogging spots before the 2024 monsoon, the actual count surged to 147 during the season. Surveys revealed alarming drainage times, with more than 10 spots taking over five hours to clear. Chronic flooding plagues western areas such as Bopal, Ghuma, Gota, and Bodakdev, as well as eastern pockets including Naroda, Saraspur-Rakhial, and Bapunagar. In extreme cases, eleven spots recorded water levels exceeding two feet, with Hirabag in Paldi reaching three feet.
Recent Flooding Events and Ongoing Challenges
In the last week of August 2024, a deluge of 10 inches of rain led to waterlogging at over 300 locations. While most areas cleared within an hour, 147 spots remained submerged for longer periods, and 10 areas stayed flooded for up to four days. Heading into 2025, the AMC retained all 147 spots on its watch list, distributed across seven zones: 39 in the East, 32 in the Northwest, 24 in the North, 22 in the West, 15 in the South, eight in the Central Zone, and seven in the Southwest.
Yet, unseasonal rain on May 7, 2025, still caused flooding in several areas, starkly highlighting the gap between substantial spending and tangible results. This persistent issue underscores the urgent need for effective governance and infrastructure improvements.
Financial Commitments and Future Projects
In response, the corporation's water and sewerage committee has approved 36 projects worth Rs 841.45 crore. Of these, 29 projects costing Rs 644.34 crore are currently in progress, while six projects valued at Rs 42.11 crore await clearance. Additionally, a separate tender for Rs 155 crore has been floated. As of February 2026, 48 stormwater network projects totaling Rs 1,080 crore are underway, representing a massive financial outlay.
The performance of these initiatives will be a critical benchmark for the newly elected corporators, who will be judged on their ability to deliver results and mitigate the flood crisis that continues to endanger lives and disrupt daily life in Ahmedabad.
