Heavy Discharge causes deluge in Narmada

Surat/Bharuch: Heavy discharge from Sardar Sarovar dam due to heavy rains in the upstream areas triggered flash floods in nearly 30 villages of Bharuch district on Monday.
Close to 5,000 people were relocated to safer places from the villages located on the banks of Narmada in Bharuch, Ankleshwar, Vagra and Jhagadia talukas.
Following heavy rainfall in the dam’s upstream areas in Madhya Pradesh, nearly 11.43 lakh cusec water is being released into the Sardar Sarovar dam from Indira Sagar dam in MP.As a result, nearly 10.21 lakh cusec water is being released into the downstream, Narmada canal and powerhouse by the dam authorities.
The flood waters left several fields heavily waterlogged.
Twenty three gates have been opened up to 7.56 m and water level in the dam was 132.88 m on Monday evening, said PC Vyas, director, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL).
Bharuch collector Dr. MD Modiya said, “The water level at Golden Bridge crossed 34 foot, 10 foot above the danger level of 24 foot. After many years, Narmada is flowing bank to bank.”
In Bharuch town, low-lying areas like Dandia Bazar, Furza, Dholi Kui, Pirkanthi witnessed heavy waterlogging and 1,347 people were shifted from these areas. round 669 residents of Mangleshwar, Nikor, Shuklatirth, Kadod Beyt, Dashan Beyt, Tavra and 812 from Sarfuddin, Dhanturia, Borbhatha, Haripura, Kansia, Chaapra and Khalapia villages of Ankleshwar were evacuated. Around 2,00 people were also shifted to safer locations from Vagra and all were taken to temporary camps set up.
An NDRF team has been kept on a stand-by at Ankleshwar.
DK Rajul, station superintendent, Bharuch said, “There is a flood in Narmada but railway movement has not been affected. There is no reduction in speed of the trains too. When the water level at the Silver Bridge reaches 40 foot, speed control advisory will be released."
The flash flood also affected road connectivity in many parts of Bharuch and Narmada districts. The administration has ordered closure of small shops near Golden Bridge as a large number of people are crowding the place to have a glimpse of the stunning view flood in Narmada.
Narmada collector Manoj Kothari told TOI: "The famous Shiva temple in Garudeshwar and the ancient Dutt temple at Garudeshwar are flooded. The raod connectivity between Garudeshwar and Kevadia Colony has been snapped and around 260 people from nine villages have been shifted to safer place. "