Surat under flood threat after dam overflows; 1,500 people evacuated

Surat, Aug 7 (UNI) As more and more water is being released from Ukai dam to maintain its level, the increasing inflow in river Tapi has created a flood threat at Surat, Limbayat and Bhatar area of Gujarat.

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has evacuated more than 1,500 people from low lying areas on the banks of river Tapi, near Bapu Nagar, Nehru Nagar and J P Nagar.

Water level in Ukai dam rose this morning to 337 feet, eight feet below the danger level. And the water level in river Tapi is 5.7 feet, just four feet below danger level.

District authorities said more than four lakh cusecs of water will be released to river Tapi today, from Ukai dam.

SMC commissioner Pankaj Joshi said that five relief camps are active in the city to provide assistance to the evacuated.

Medical officers are posted at the relief camps and fire brigade has been alerted to meet any eventuality.

Yesterday, it rained heavily in many parts of South Gujarat and district authorities are working round the clock to avert any danger.

A high level meeting has been held in which state water resources minister Narottam Patel gave strict instructions to officials to be alert in case of any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, many educational institutions have been declared closed for an indefinite period.

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