Vadodara: When Barodians faced the fury of floods , the civic authorities struggled to reach help to the stranded citizens for days, despite being equipped with modern technologies. The administration could have taken a leaf out of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad’s flood management practices. Nearly a century ago, when the erstwhile Baroda state faced its worst-ever floods, the Gaekwadi state ensured that the victims got help quickly.
And this was when the king was away in Europe. In 1927, Baroda witnessed a deluge as over 90 inches of rain pounded the town within two days. Such was the downpour that it is said that the Vishwamitri water touched the feet of the horse at Kala Ghoda Circle.
“A large part of the town was submerged in waters. But the administration quickly swung into action and deployed dozens of elephants in the flooded areas. The relief teams rode on the elephants to distribute food, water, and medicines to the people in marooned areas,” said Chandrashekhar Patil, historian and art curator.
“The teams also went around in the inundated areas by boats to rescue the victims. The priority was to ensure that the people didn’t go hungry. Once the flood waters subsided, the administration shifted its focus to sanitation,” Patil, who regularly organizes exhibitions on Maharaja Sayajirao, told TOI.
A team of 40 doctors was deployed to attend to the patients who suffered from fever, diarrhoea, and other water-borne diseases. “The floods inflicted immense losses on Barodians, so Maharaja Sayajirao waived off all taxes that year. Also, the state paid Rs 15 as compensation to every victim who lost their valuables in the floods,” Patil added.
Jeetendrasinh Gaekwad, great-grandnephew of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, added, “Apart from boats, elephants were the only safe mode of transport as they could wade through deep waters. The Gaekwadi administration functioned efficiently to minimize the damages. Postal letters were also delivered to people by elephants during the 1927 floods.
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