State issues fresh flood warning in central Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Aug 11 (UNI) Over two lakh people were evacuated today from nearly 100 villages and several towns in Central Gujarat following heavy rains in catchment areas in the neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Authorities say that the problem could worsen if 11 lakh cusecs of water from Kadana and Panam dams built on Mahisagar river is also released.

Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made an aerial survey of Surat and surrounding villages to have a first hand impression of the calamity in Gujarat, flood warnings were issued to district officials of Vadodara, Kheda, Anand and Panchmahals. Earlier flood had caused an estimated loss of more than Rs 25,000 crore in property in Surat and Vadodra regions so far.

With 15 more deaths reported in the last 24 hours from the flood-hit areas, the toll has crossed the 100 mark.

Authorities told UNI here today that once the 11 lakh cusecs of water was expected to be released from Kadana and Panam dams, the four down stream districts - Vadodara, Kheda, Anand and Panchmahals -- could be threatened by flash floods.

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