Surat residents heave sigh of relief as flood waters recede

Gandhinagar, Aug 10: The residents of Surat city and surrounding areas finally heaved a sigh of relief as flood waters receded in parts of the city since this morning.

With rain fury abating in catchment areas water influx into Ukai dam came down. The Gujarat Administration has cut down the outflow to 5.5 lakh cusecs water as compared to over seven lakh yesterday and over nine lakhs on Tuesday, which resulted in receding of water levels in many areas of Surat city.

Following the improvement in the situation, the state government has launched a massive relief and rescue operation in Surat city, said Gujarat Urban Development Minsiter I K Jadeja and Gujarat Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel, in a joint news conference, in Gandhinagar this evening.

However, they admitted that as many as nine more deaths have been reported in the Surat Civil Hospital in the last four days.

With three more persons being killed in the flood-related incidents in Vadodara district and two each in Mehasana, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts in the last 24 hours, the toll has risen to 91, so far.

The Gujarat government is seeking immediate assistance of 7,000 tonnes of foodgrains and 5,000 kilolitres of kerosene from the Centre in relief assistance, they said. The Ministers pointed out that still half of Surat is submerged in water. ''Our relief and rescue operations are primarily focused on supply of food, drinking water, restoration of power supply and medical facilities to sick and aged persons trapped in the natural calamtiy,'' they added.

As part of the relief-rescue strategy, three water works have been restored and began their operation in Surat. The water works are in Amroli, Umarwada and Kadodara and pumping of drinking water has begun, said Kaushik Patel.

So far, power supply has been restored for over 2.15 lakh consumers. ''We are giving power on priority basis to hospitals, administrative buildings and other places (petrol and kerosene dealers and those supplying essential commodities) toward smooth flow of relief and rehabilitation,'' they said.

A special train, with 12 wagons, has been despatched from Ahmedabad to Surat carrying 3.75 tonnes of water and food materials.

While another train with six wagons would be leaving for Surat by this evening, the duo said.

Besides these, three lakh litres of milk from Sumul Dairy has also been rushed to the city, in addition to 14 tankers of milk from Mehsana, Anand, Banaskantha.

IAF helicopters have flown 34 sorties to air-drop food and water in places like Rander, Adajan and Katargam, which are still submerged. With improvement in the situation, only seven copters are flying as against the earlier 14. These sorties were flown from Bhavnagar and Daman airbases. Eight additional army columns are on their way to Surat today and would aid the 18 columns, which are already helping the local administration in relief and rescue operations.

Over 1,000 medical teams have been sent to Surat while telecommunication network of BSNL has also started, Mr Jadeja informed.

Since 1030 hrs, the inflow in Ukai dam is 5.68 lakh cusecs and the outflow 5.5 lakh cusecs. The outflow from the dam will continue in the next 24 hours depending on the inflow of water from outside the state, they said.

Meanwhile, 32 residents of a building were rescued as it tilted in the Surat City.

Meanwhile, a report from Anand district said the overflowing Sabarmati river has flooded 12 villages in Tarapur taluka in that district.

The Sabarmati is one of the seven rivers that meet near Dholka and then proceeds ahead through the district. The villages flooded include Fatehpura, Galiyana, Rinza, Khada, Millrampura, Tesarvada, Dugari, Naboi, Motakalodara, Jaffargunj, Pachegam and Kasbra.

A report from Vadodara said with three more deaths in the city today, the death toll in the district has reached 25.

Three people died in Sinor taluka of Sanua village today of Vadodara district. Govind Rudaji Thakor (22), a hutment dweller, drowned after he fell into a lake opposite the GSFC market yard in Vadodara city. His cousin Shemaji Buraji Thakor (30), who went to rescue him, also drowned.

In another incident, a shepherd, identified as Ashwin Chandu Patanwadia (14), fell into a lake and drowned.

Meanwhile, six deaths were reported in the flood-related incidents, two each in Mehasana, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha in last 24 hours. Besides these, two others were reported missing.

The heavy rainfall lashed North Gujarat resulted in swelling of the Banas and Balaram rivers, while the Mokeswar Dam on Sarswati river in Vadagam taluka has been flowing at 199.44 metres. As a precautionary measure, all 22 villages coming within the catchment area of the dam have been placed on alert.

''A girl was killed in Dhanera taluka and a boy in Pepali village in Palanpur taluka and one person is reported missing,'' said Collector of Banaskantha District Hareet Shukla.

In Mehasana, the water-level in the Dharoi dam has reached 181.930 metres and four gates have been opened. One boy reportedly drowned in the Rupen river near Mahsana and one died in Kadi near Bhandu railway station in a road mishap.

In Sabarkantha district, as many as 43 villages of 12 talukas have been alerted. Two persons drowned, while one is missing, said Deputy Collector P P Patel.

UNI