Heavy Rain Exposes Smart City Failures: Ahmedabad Submerged, Red Alert for Next 4 Days

Despite being labeled a 'smart city,' Ahmedabad crumbled under just a few hours of heavy rain, revealing severe flaws in its drainage and civic infrastructure. Over 22 inches of rainfall turned major roads into rivers, halting traffic, flooding markets, and paralyzing daily life. Public buses stood submerged, their tires and lower windows underwater, while drivers abandoned vehicles fearing accidents. Shops were forced to shut, and waterlogged residential areas became virtually inaccessible.A red alert for continuous rain over the next four days has raised public concern. Visuals from across the city show waist-deep water in lanes and waterlogging in commercial and residential zones. Poor sewer management is blamed, with blocked drains leading to overflow of sewage onto streets, increasing the risk of diseases.The crisis isn’t limited to Gujarat. Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara witnessed a farmer swept away with his bullock cart in a flooded river, narrowly escaping death. In Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, similar images of overflowing rivers, stranded people, and dangerous rescue operations highlight the widespread impact of torrential rains across northern India.The rain has become not just a natural challenge but a glaring spotlight on failed urban planning and disaster preparedness in many "developed" cities.