Dam water floods,40 people trapped in Gujarat

Anand, Aug 12: At least 40 persons in Karoli village in Vadodara district have been trapped as dam water released by authorities flooded large tracts of land in the area.

They have taken shelter on trees. Boats could not be deployed to rescue them as thorny bushes were scattered all over the place, officials said. Helicopters would be pressed into service to evacuate them, they said.

Warnings were issued to residents of Godhra, Vadodara, Kheda and Anand districts to move to safer places, as authorities ordered release of nearly 15 lakh cusecs of water into Mahi river from three separate dams-Panam, Wanakbori and Kadana.

Savli and Padra talukas in Vadodara district, Lunavada, Khanpur, Shehra and Kadana in Panchmahals (Godhra) district, Umreth, Borsad, Anklav and Anand of Anand district and Kheda and Matar in Kheda district have been affected by the release of flood waters.

Incessant rains have continued since last night over the region, with Kheda receiving 1130 mm overnight.

Out of the total of 191 big, medium and small dams, 80 are on Those reaching the "alert" mark are filled up between 90 and 100 per cent. As many as 54 dams are completely filled up.

Dams in the state this year have stored water up to 83 per cent of total capacity, as against 66 per cent in the corresponding period last year

UNI