By – Prakarsh Kastwar
Significant amounts of water have been released from the Ukai Dam and the Sardar Sarovar Dam, raising worries of flooding in low-lying areas.
Authorities have taken precautions to control the soaring water levels in the state’s well-known dams in the wake of the torrential rains that has been pelting Gujarat. Continuous rains have caused large water to be released from the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River and the Ukai Dam over the Tapi River, raising concerns of flooding in low-lying areas.
As the Narmada and other rivers were in full spate, the floods cut off several villages; as a result, 9,600 people were relocated to safety and 207 more were rescued in five districts. According to PTI, rivers like the Orsang, Heran, Mahi, Meshri, and Panam are all swelled as a result of the severe rain and water release from numerous dams.
Water levels in the Sardar Sarovar Dam dropped by 10 lakh cusecs.
The release of roughly 10 lakh cusecs of water caused a considerable drop in the water level of Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Dam. In reaction to the region’s severe rains, 23 of the dam’s gates were opened to start this process. On Sunday morning, the Sardar Sarovar Dam attained its full reservoir level (FRL), which for this monsoon is 138.68 meters.
Many districts are expected to receive a lot of rain.
The Panchmahal, Dahod, Kheda, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Banaskantha, and Sabarkantha districts have received a red signal from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which predicts sporadic, extremely heavy rainfall through Tuesday morning. In its forecast up till Thursday morning, it has also forewarned of isolated heavy to extremely severe rainfall in Gujarat.
1 lakh 98 thousand cusecs of water are released by Ukai Dam.
The Ukai Dam, which spans the Tapi River, has opened 15 gates in reaction to the recent two days of intense rainfall, discharging a whopping 1 lakh 98 thousand cusecs of water into the river. To control the growing water levels and avoid probable flooding in the downstream areas, this step was done.
“More than four lakh cusecs of water was received due to heavy rains in the past two days,” said PG Vasava, executive engineer of the Ukai Dam. The Ukai Dam’s 15 gates were opened with the upstream in mind, releasing 1 lakh 98 thousand cubic seconds of water. The Tapi River’s many villages were on high alert.
NDRF conducts rescues in Bharuch amid flood-like conditions
A flood-like situation has developed in numerous areas of Bharuch as a result of the intense rainfall. People in low-lying portions of Nikora hamlet became stuck as a result of rising water levels. To perform rescue operations and offer aid to the afflicted communities, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was sent out.
Schools closed in Jalore, Rajasthan
Heavy rains in Rajasthan’s neighboring Jalore district led the district’s education officer to issue a warning ordering the closure of all schools and anganwadis. All public and private schools as well as anganwadis in the district will be closed today, September 18, owing to rain, according to the alert.