Alert in Surat, Bharuch as heavy downpour continues

Rail, road transport affected as water level continues to rise in Narmada

District authorities in south Gujarat districts of Surat and Bharuch have sounded a flood alert following incessant rainfall since Saturday in the region. The water level of Tapi and Narmada rivers over Surat and Bharuch have risen nearing danger levels.

As on Monday evening, inflow of water in the Tapi had decreased, but the water level in Narmada river at Golden Bridge in Bharuch was increasing.

According to the weather department, heavy rains lashed the entire south Gujarat region due to lower pressure over the Madhya Pradesh region. Hence, heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Tapi and Narmada rivers a flood-like situation was experienced in most parts of Southern Gujarat region.

Authorities released 4.34 cusecs of water from Ukai Dam on Monday evening. “We are trying to maintain this level. And we have seen decrease in the water inflow (at the dam),” said Jai Prakash Shivahare, district collector, Surat. Rescue teams along with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been sent to affected regions.

Low-lying areas of Surat including Adajan, and other parts were flooded with water. “Some of the areas were submerged 2-feet in water. We have shifted around 1,000 people to safer places. Also, two NDRF teams have been put on stand-by in case of any eventuality,” Shivahare said.

Towns nearby Surat including Umarpada, Ankleshwar, Bharuch, Vapi, Navsari witnessed heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours. Weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours over the southern Gujarat region.

Heavy rainfall in Bharuch and the adjoining Narmada district area has caused water logging and disruptions in road and rail traffic movement. The water level at the Golden Bridge over Narmada river in Bharuch city increased by 3 feet to 28 feet by evening today. The water level had already touched the danger mark of 25 feet in the afternoon.

“The water level at Golden Bridge has increased and it is likely to rise further over the night. Also, continuous rainfall in the city has caused water logging in low lying residential areas. Two teams of NDRF along with Ahmedabad fire team and SRP companies have reported here. Evacuation in urban and rural areas is going on,” said Avantika Singh Aulakh, district collector, Bharuch.

No causality has been reported so far, district officials said. Gujarat has so far received 110 per cent of the three years normal rainfall this season.