Residents of low-lying areas near Ambazari Lake awoke to a shocking and unexpected flood event on Saturday morning. The scale of the flood was unprecedented which left both residents and rescue teams baffled by the sheer volume of water in their homes. Members of local rescue teams rushed to the scene and struggled to find the cause of this sudden flood. After conducting a thorough assessment of the affected area, the officials of rescue teams made a discovery - the excessive growth of Eichhornia plants (Jalparni) in Ambazari Lake played a vital role in triggering the catastrophic flood.

 

An official from the rescue teams explained that the Eichhornia plants, which were growing in the lake, were carried away by the current through water discharge points. These plants became entangled under the bridge situated on Ambazari Road, near Swami Vivekanand Statue. This obstruction led to the complete blockage of the underpass designed for efficient water flow and resulted in water surging over the road surface, the official said. The underpass was originally constructed to facilitate the smooth passage of water during heavy rains. However, the underpass was totally blocked due to the plants. As a result, extensive flooding was caused in Samta Nagar, Ambazari Layout, and Daga Layout as the water entered the localities through the road.

 

In an effort to mitigate the crisis, the administration deployed an excavator to remove the Eichhornia plants that had clogged the waterway. However, the machine was swept away by the rushing water and got entangled beneath the same bridge. Senior Police Inspector Vinayak Golhe and his team from the Ambazari police station entered the spot at 4 am and worked tirelessly to manage the crisis and ensure the safety of residents.