The Floods

Floods have been associated with Baroda city for centuries. In fact, this was the reason why the ancient settlement of “Ankotaka” moved to the safety of the higher grounds of “Vatapatraka,” the small settlements that were the roots of present-day Baroda.

Ghoda Pur:

While there have been many floods in the city, such as the one in 1878 with 77 inches of rain, or the 1917 floods with 69 inches, the most lethal occurred in 1927, with about 90 inches of rain. The flood of 1927 was so damaging that a novel was written about it in 1937.

In late July 1927, Baroda experienced the highest recorded rainfall, approximately 90 inches, compared to the normal annual average of 30 inches. The rain poured constantly for four days, causing the Vishwamitri River to rise so high that its waters touched the feet of the Kala Ghoda statue. Because it touched the feet of the horse in the statue, it became known as ‘ઘોડા પૂર’ (Ghoda Pur), meaning “horse flood” in Gujarati.

The flood disrupted services such as railways and power supply, submerging the ground floors of many houses and even the General Hospital. The Sayaji Baug Zoo also suffered significant damage, with many animals drowning in their cages.

Despite the disruptions, authorities decided to continue postal services using elephants, which played an important role during the floods of 1941 as well. Many residents came forward to help those trapped in their homes during the floods, supplying food and drinking water.

Vadodara has suffered from floods in the years 1941, 1970, 1974, 1976, 1994, 1996, and 2005. Although the city now has a well-maintained drainage system and various canals, it still occasionally faces issues with flooding and water-logging.

Partial Source: India Together