Flood situation improves in Guj, many evacuated

Ahmedabad, Aug 20: The flood situation is easing in districts of north Gujarat, Ahmedabad city and surrounding areas following reduction in the water discharge from the Ukai and Dharoi dams.

The discharge from Vanakbori and Dharoi dams into Mahisagar and Sabarmati rivers respectively has been reduced from 6.5 lakh and 2.25 lakh cusecs to 5.5 lakh and 2.2 lakh cusecs respectively.

However, the civic administration, police and fire brigade personnel are still on high alert. They are being assisted by the army and SRPF jawans in the relief and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, officials reported three deaths in rain-related incidents in Ahmedabad district.

They said that five columns of the army have been deployed for relief and rescue operations. Two army columns each are engaged in Anand and Ahmedabad districts, while one is engaged in Kheda district.

Over 72,000 people residing in low-lying areas in these flood affected areas have been shifted to safer places by authorities since last night.

The Kadana, Vanakbori and Dharoi dams had been overflowing due to incessant rains in North Gujarat and South Rajasthan since Thursday.

Low-lying areas of Ahmedabad like Acher village, Nava Vadaj, Chandrabhaga Pol, V S Hospital, Juhapura, Dudeswari Dhobi Ghat, Shahpur, Raigad, Khanpur and Gaekwad Haveli are facing water-logging. People have been evacuated from 26 villages of Kheda district, 38 of Anand, 41 villages and localities of Ahmedabad, 15 villages of Panchmahals, four villages each of Vadodara and Patan and two villages each in Sabarkantha and Bharuch.

Danta in Banaskantha recieved the highest rainfall of 263 mm since yesterday while Vadgaon in the same district experienced 215 mm rains. Patan's Radhanpur taluka and Santhalpur recieved 234 mm 177 mm rains respectively.

Officials said, 76 water reservoirs have been filled to their capacity, while 105 have been filled upto over 90 per cent, while another 20 filled between 80 to 90 per cent of their capacity.

As a result of huge inflow into these water reservoirs, a high alert has been sounded at 105 places, an alert in 20 and warning in 13 others, sources added.

This is for the fourth time this season that central Gujarat is facing flood threats.

UNI