Surat: In a significant relief to the residents of Surat, the continuous heavy rains that had lashed the city came to a halt, allowing water to start receding from several inundated areas. With no rainfall on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the city began its recovery process, and over 955 people started returning to their homes from shelter accommodations.
The heavy rains had severely affected Surat and neighbouring regions, leading to waterlogging and disruption in daily life. Vadodara city also experienced substantial rainfall on Wednesday, causing waterlogging in low-lying areas and significant traffic congestion, including the closure of the Alkapuri underpass to vehicular traffic. In the aftermath of the deluge, more than 132 roads leading to various villages were rendered impassable. These closures included routes in Umarpada (12), Mangrol (27), Mandvi (21), Mahuva (5), Bardoli (29), Palsana (16), Choryasi (4), Olpad (15), and Kamrej (3). However, as the weather improved, several of these roads were reopened for public use on Thursday morning.
The flooding in Surat was exacerbated by waterlogging and the overflow of creek water, which resulted in severe flooding in areas such as Udhna, Limbayat, Sarthana, and Sachin. The municipal corporation, alongside rescue teams, evacuated over 955 residents, including women, children, and the elderly, from affected residential societies. These individuals were relocated to shelter homes set up at community health centres and schools on Wednesday. According to the Surat district flood control room, the water level in the Ukai dam on Thursday morning was measured at 316.66 feet, well below the danger level of 345 feet. The dam’s inflow was recorded at 33,168 cusecs, while the outflow stood at 600 cusecs. Current water storage in the dam is at 2,649.47 million cubic metres, representing 39.37 per cent of its capacity.
Meanwhile, Valsad district continued to experience rainfall on Thursday. Rainfall measurements from 6 am to 10 am indicated the following: Dharampur (18 mm), Valsad (9 mm), Kaprada (20 mm), Pardi (4 mm), and Umargam (6 mm). The water level in the Damanganga dam was reported at 72 metres, with a gross storage of 227.78 million cubic metres. The inflow to the dam was 51,708 cusecs, and the outflow was 49,032 cusecs, prompting the opening of all ten gates to a height of 1.3 metres to discharge excess rainwater.
In Navsari district, except for Khergam taluka which recorded 16 mm of rain, no other areas reported significant rainfall till 12 pm on Thursday. Dangs district witnessed rainfall only in Saputara, where 29 mm of rainfall was recorded between Thursday morning and afternoon. The cessation of rains has brought a much-needed respite to the residents of Surat and the surrounding districts, enabling the commencement of recovery and rehabilitation efforts. As the city gradually returns to normalcy, authorities remain vigilant in managing the aftermath of the heavy rains and ensuring the safety and well-being of the affected populations.
