Waves hit S Gujarat
Saturday, July 25, 2009 9:26 IST
Ahmedabad/Surat: Even as people were evacuated to safer places in Saurashtra due to incessant rains that hit the region, Surat witnessed high tidal waves hitting the Dumas coast yesterday.
"The situation is bad in Porbandar due to continuous rainfall. We have pressed into service NDRF units,'' state relief commissioner P Paneervel said.He said ministers Vajubhai Vala and Anandiben Patel and officers of the revenue department will conduct an aerial survey of the affected districts. "We will then decide about further relief and rescue operations," Paneervel said.
The rescue teams which are already spread out in the entire coastal belt of Dwarka, Porbander, Veraval, Mangrol and Chorwad have been alerted as the tidal waves may bring more water into the already inundated areas.
Meanwhile, the water level in the Sardar Sarovar dam rose to 118 metre till Thursday night, following heavy rains in catchment areaa.
In Surat, local residents witnessed giants waves in Dumas beach on Friday afternoon. The high tide also resulted in many areas of the village being flooded with sea water. The very existence of Dumas and other coastal villages is at threat on account of constant erosion and advancing of the sea. The sea water also flooded Mora and other coastal villages in Hazira belt due to the high tide.
Giant waves, some as high as 30 - 35 feet, hit the Tithal beach in Valsad on account of high tide. A large number of tourists and visitors experienced the scaring spectacle.
The Onjal and Maachhiwad villages in Navsari's Jalalpore taluka were flooded by sea water following high tides. Many other coastal villages such as Dholai, Danti, Ubhrat, Vansi and Borsi Maachhiwad were also hit by the waves.
"Hazira Outer as well as Hazira Inner areas will witness highest tide in month of July. Hazira Outer is expected to witness 8.18 metre high tides while Hazira Inner is expected to witness 6.19 metres high tide," said Surat collector Dilip Rawal said.
Meanwhile, the civic administration in Surat heaved a sign of relief after water of Kankara Khadi went below the danger level. About 588 residents of Azad Nagar in Rasulabad, who had to be evacuated, were shifted back to their homes.
"Kankara Khadi is flowing one metre below danger level of 5.10 metre and as there were no heavy rains throughout the day, we shifted all residents back to their homes," JM Azad, executive engineer of Athwa zone, said.
The inflow at Ukai dam is 1.10 lakh cusecs and water level in the dam is 304 feet. Flood control sources said that water level will reach 305 feet in next few hours.