Flood situation in Surat likely to worsen

AHMEDABAD: The flood situation in Surat, which is already grim, is likely to worsen today due to high tide in the Gulf of Khambat, officials said.

Owing to the continuous release of nine lakh cusecs of water from the Ukai dam in river Tapti, more than 80 per cent area of Surat is already under water, Surat Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha said on Wednesday.

The situation is likely to worsen due to high tide in the Gulf of Khambhat as the sea is not accepting the river water, officials said.

"The water logging will continue for two to three days as the release of nine lakh cusecs of water still continues from the Ukai dam," Sinha said.

Most of 35 lakh population of Surat is badly affected by the worst deluge ever faced by the city, which has also claimed six lives.

Sinha said the casualties will go up if the water sheet covers first floor of houses and buildings in the vicinity of Tapti river. "As of now the situation is under control as people are taking shelter on roof tops," he said adding that people are facing extreme problem of procuring food, water, medicine and milk.

Surat MLA Dhiru Gajera said, "though human casualties are less till now, hundreds of cattle, stray dogs and cats have died in the flooding."