The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red and orange alert, predicting very heavy rainfall in parts of Gujarat on Monday. The areas on red alert include Aravalli, Khera, Panchmahal, Dahod and Mahisagar. Meanwhile, an orange alert was issued in Sabar Kantha, Mahesena, Ahmedabad and Vodadara.
Other regions which are likely to witness moderate rain are Junagarh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Gandhinagar, Patan, Sabarkantha, Khera, Anand, Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Botad, Bhavnagar, Kutch and in Diu.
A flood-like situation was also witnessed in several parts of the state. In the Anand district, a team of fire brigade rescued five people trapped in floodwater after the water from the Mahisagar River entered the fields late at night.
Meanwhile, Narmada river's water level crossed the danger mark in the Bharuch district. However, the water receded around noon on Monday. Train traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route resumed slowly around Monday noon nearly 12 hours after it was halted when the Narmada river was flowing above the danger mark between Bharuch and Ankleshwar stations in Gujarat, Western Railway said.
"The railway traffic over the Narmada River bridge has resumed and trains are being operated slowly with caution," Western Railway's Chief PRO Sumit Thakur told PTI.
The operation of trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route between Bharuch and Ankleshwar stations under the Vadodara division stopped after Narmada river waters surged above the danger mark at brigade no. 502 at around 11:50 pm on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
conducted floodwater rescue operations and safely evacuated 16 people. Heavy rainfall in Bharuch also caused
waterlogging in the city.
Bharuch Collector Tushar Sumera told news agency ANI that the situation is now under control. "From the last two days, the level of the Narmada river on the Golden Bridge is hovering around 40-41ft. Still, it is 40ft and there are chances for its reduction. Wherever there was water, it has now receded. 5,700 people are shifted already. By and large, the situation is under control," he said.
Besides, several villages along the Tapi River were put on alert after heavy rains lashed the regions in the last two days. According to an official, "more than four lakh cusec of water was received due to heavy rains in the past two days".
PG Vasava, executive engineer, Ukai Dam, was quoted by ANI as saying, "Keeping in mind the upstream, 15 gates of the Ukai Dam were opened and 1,98,000 cusec water is being released." The news agency also posted visuals from the Ukai Dam built over the Tapi River where 15 gates were opened to release water.
Subsequently, Sardar Sarovar Dam built on the Narmada River had its water level reduced by 10 lakh cusecs after the water was released by opening 23 gates of the dam.
(Edited by : Akriti Anand)
First Published: Sept 18, 2023 11:30 AM IST
