On Monday, Navsari and Valsad districts in south Gujarat experienced a deluge resulting to the swelling of rivers and evacuation of over 1000 residents from submerged low-lying regions.
SEOC statistics showed that Khergam taluka in Navsari district had received 229 mm of rainfall since yesterday up to 6 am today while during the same period 12 talukas located in Dangs and Tapi districts recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall.
Incessant rains upstream led to Aurang River in Valsad taluka passing the danger mark. Kaveri and Ambika rivers in the neighboring district of Navsari were also overflowing flooding low lying areas.
Heavy downpour on Sunday resulted into the relocation of about 1,000 people from Gandevi taluka, an area within Navsari district, after Ambika and Kaveri rivers had caused floods.
Valsad district administration said that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel saved seven labourers who were stranded in a flooded pond on Sunday.
According to assistant collector AR Jha: “162 people living in low-lying areas within Valsad city have been shifted to shelter homes. Besides, one man was reported dead as he was swept away by flood water at Dharampur taluka.”
In Navsari district alone no less than 1000 persons have been relocated to safety according to Gandevi MLA Naresh Patel’s statement.
Patel added that: “An old man succumbed after being swept away by floods; there is now an ongoing attempt to retrieve his body.”
Rainfall has continued unabatedly leading Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel talk with collectors of Navsari and Valsad districts ordering them to shift victims living around flood prone zones elsewhere for their safety thus minimizing loss due rain damage.
Yesterday morning, Khergam taluka in Navsari district alone recorded 229 mm of rainfall, followed by Dharampur, and Valsad talukas’ with 185 mm and 180mm of rainfall, respectively. In addition to these Dangs and Tapi districts in south Gujarat saw 12 other talukas recording more than 100 mm of rainfall as shown by SEOC data.
Gujarat has received over two third its average total monsoons this season following recent wet spell. Kutch zone has received a maximum of 86% of the State’s rainfalls, which was followed by southern Gujarat region and Saurashtra zone that accounted for 81% and 77% of rains respectively.
Cumulative average seasonal precipitation in North, East central part of state so far stands at almost about half what is expected reiterated the SEOC.
With good rains in catchment areas, water storage in Narmada district’s Sardar Sarovar Dam crossed over 60 % (2,04,901 million cubic feet (mcft).
Out of the remaining 206 reservoirs across Gujarat which have a total capacity to store up to 3,25, 972 mcft there are 47 reservoirs that have filled up. The Water Resources Department stated that ten other reservoirs are on high alert as they are between 90 to 100 percent full while 19 others were above 60 percent.
In South Gujarat region all together 13 reservoirs are recorded as being 70.32% full. The water storage in one hundred forty one reservoirs has gone up to 52.68% in Saurashtra region. In Kutch twenty reservoirs are filled up to 52.15%.
