Ahmedabad News | Rainfall after dry spell, autorickshaw and taxi drivers' strike today & more

Ahmedabad experiences welcome rainfall after a dry spell, autorickshaw and taxi drivers to go on strike today, rise in throat infections amid weather changes, and more. Catch up with the latest news of your city with this Ahmedabad News Roundup.

After a prolonged dry spell, Ahmedabad finally experienced rainfall on Tuesday, bringing relief to residents. The city saw moderate to heavy rain in several areas, including Paldi, Jivraj Park, Vasna, Shyamal, Prahlad Nagar, Ellisbridge, Ashram Road, Jamalpur, Astodia, Geeta Mandir, and Lal Darwaza. Other neighborhoods like Sarkhej, Jodhpur, Prahladnagar, Shyamal, Shivaranjani, SG Highway, Usmanpura, and Maktampura also received showers.

The city recorded a cumulative rainfall of 5mm. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), light to moderate rain is expected to continue on Wednesday.

Autorickshaw and taxi drivers in Ahmedabad have launched the "Roji Roti Bachao Andolan" to protest against the operation of two-wheelers with white number plates run by online ride-sharing applications.

Over two and a half lakh autorickshaws and more than 80,000 taxis operate in the city. The drivers are demanding resolution of their issues, which they claim have been ignored for the last one and a half years. The protest, conducted in a non-violent manner, will see all participating drivers halting their services from 6 AM today.

Ahmedabad has seen a 25% to 30% increase in cases of throat infections over the past week, attributed to the humid and fluctuating weather conditions. Children and the elderly are particularly affected, with common symptoms including dry cough, sore throat, and runny nose.

Medical professionals have also noted a rise in patients with chronic lung diseases, exacerbated by the persistent humidity.

Gujarat has been experiencing very heavy rainfall, leading to flooding in some areas over the past two days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for certain regions, with a warning of continued heavy rains expected until 8:30 a.m. on July 25th.

Other parts of the state have been placed on orange alert, urging residents to take necessary precautions.

Residents of Asarwa and Shahibaug wards in Ahmedabad are voicing concerns over inadequate basic facilities. Issues reported include leakage in drainage lines, overflowing drains in more than 17 areas, and broken sewer covers.

Additionally, there are complaints of polluted water and insufficient water pressure, especially in the 18 chalis of Asarwa ward. In Shahibaug ward, stone pavements in nine areas have deteriorated, requiring urgent repairs.