A sudden surge in water levels in the Sabarmati River turned a routine workday near Bakrol village into a tense rescue mission on August 24, 2025, as heavy rains and dam releases caused widespread flooding in Ahmedabad. The overflow affected low-lying riverfront areas, submerging walkways and prompting immediate action.

Thankfully, 25 construction workers engaged in building an overbridge near Sarkhej were trapped by the rushing water but were swiftly rescued by the Ahmedabad Fire Department. Deploying four to five rescue vehicles and three boats, they evacuated all workers safely to dry ground.

The flooding, however, came at a cost disrupting major infrastructure. Equipment linked to the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project was reportedly swept away by the strong current near Subhash Bridge, raising alarm about potential delays and safety challenges.

Authorities noted that the Dharoi Dam, already more than 94% full, received an inflow of about 59,444 cusecs and released roughly 58,880 cusecs into the Sabarmati to manage water levels. Officials promptly alerted district collectors in Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Kheda, placing riverbank areas on high alert.

As the monsoon rains are getting faster and by the end of August, Gujarat has received about 77% of seasonal average rainfall, the officials are appealing to the residents-especially those living in the low-lying areas-to stay away and stay away from the riverfront areas.

The phenomenon exposes the immediate requirement of active measures in flood management and emergency prepared infrastructure, especially in urban areas growing rapidly. At the moment, there is a sense of relief from safe rescue of workers, but this disruption reminds us of the unpredictable power of monsoon, especially in urban scenarios.