Modi convenes meet to assess floods; 60,000 evacuated

Ahmedabad, Aug 19 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tonight convened a high level meeting to discuss the flood situation in Central Gujarat following the release of more than 12 lakh cusecs water from Dharoi and Kadana dams into Sabarmati and Mahisagar rivers.

More than 60,000 people were evacuated from several villages of central Gujarat districts of Panchmahals, Anand, Vadodara and Kheda.

The meeting discussed ways to contain the damage and avert a Surat-like situation, an official statement said late tonight night.

Several Ministers including, Anandiben Patel, Amit Shah, Bharat Barot, Anil Patel and Chief Secretary Sudhir Mankad and other top officials attended the meet.

According to flood control authorities, more than 3.5 lakh cusecs of water was being released from Dharoi dam into the Sabarmati river, and another nine lakh cusecs water from the Kadana dam into Mahi river.

The dams had been overflowing following incessant rains in north Gujarat and south Rajasthan since Thursday night.

The Army and the Natioanl Disaster Response Force have been put on alert in Anand, Kheda and Ahmedabad to meet any emergency.

More than 40,000 people in Ahmedabad district have been evacuated to safer places. They are mostly from 84 villages of Dholka and 18 villages of Daskroi talukas.

People living near the Vasna barrage and Sabarmati riverside have also been shifted. Two underpasses in the city have been closed for traffic.

The Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river has been overflowing and more than 500,000-cusecs of water has been released. The river is flowing almost five feet above the danger level. The Vanakbori and Meshrow dams are also overflowing. A warning has been issued for Banaskantha district as the Banas river is swollen.

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