Flood water recedes in Surat; nine bodies found

Ahmedabad, Aug 11: Nine bodies were found floating in the flood water in low-lying areas of Surat as the water level slowly receded there.

Of the nine bodies, three were found in Dandi and the rest in Varachha road area.

People feared that the exact number of casualties may never be known, as some missing people may have been drowned in the sea.

The authorities admitted that the worst-affected in the diamond city were the low-lying Rander and Adajan areas, still heavily flooded as these places are located on the banks of river Tapti.

Meanwhile, foggy weather delayed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the city. He will now reach Surat in the evening.

Also, flood control authorities in Surat reduced the release of water to 5.29 lakh cusec from Ukai dam, compared to 5.5 lakh cusec yesterday, as influx of water in the dam also went down to 4.29 lakh cusec.

The authorities said at present full reservoir level (FRL) was 345-ft in Ukai Dam.

''We plan to bring the FRL to 34-ft so that there is enough crisis management scope if there is another spell of heavy rains in the catchment areas of the dam,'' sources added.

UNI