Declare floods in Surat as national calamity: Rana

Ahmedabad, Aug 10 (UNI) Flood in Surat should be declared as a ''national calamity,'' Former Union Minister Kashiram Rana said and added Centre should provide an interim assistance of Rs 2,500 crore.

Mr Rana, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, said that 90 per cent of Surat city is marooned and has been battling under 5-20 ft of water since Monday.

Terming the flood-hit areas as the worst in past several decades, he said the areas close to Tapti river are under 20-30 ft of water, affecting over 35 lakh people who are stranded without food or water as the army finds it difficult to access many areas where they are marooned. The situation could further worsen due to high tide in the Gulf of Cambay, he said.

Even business establishments like Reliance Industries, ONGC, GAIL, Essar Steel, GSPL, Kribhco, Shell Hazira and L&T have suffered huge losses amounting to Rs 5,000 crore, Mr Rana said.

The private companies and GEB have shut down their power units as it is not possible to supply power to the houses under water, he added.

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