Heavy Rainfall and Flooding in Bharuch, Gujarat

Gujarat has been grappling with heavy rainfall since Sunday, resulting in widespread flooding across several districts of the state. Among the severely affected regions, Bharuch has borne the brunt of the flooding, with distressing videos of waterlogged streets gaining traction on social media.

Bharuch, situated in close proximity to the Narmada River, has experienced the river’s water level surging above the danger mark, causing extensive damage and disruption to the area. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have promptly mobilized to Bharuch to conduct rescue operations and have successfully evacuated 16 individuals from the affected areas.

Life in low-lying towns near the Narmada River has come to a standstill, with transportation facilities severely disrupted. Since the onset of heavy rains on Sunday, a total of 9,613 people have been relocated to safer areas, while 207 individuals have been rescued from various districts, including Narmada, Bharuch, Vadodara, Dahod, and Panchmahal.

Schools and Colleges Closed

In response to the worsening flood situation, the Gujarat government has issued orders for the closure of schools, colleges, and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the Narmada district. This decision aims to ensure the safety of students and faculty members in the wake of the ongoing floods.

Swollen Rivers and Dam Operations

As part of flood mitigation efforts, the authorities have taken measures to manage the water levels in dams. The gates of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, located on the Narmada River, were opened to a height of 5.60 meters. This controlled release is intended to maintain a safe rise to the full reservoir level (FRL), which stands at 138.68 meters. At present, the water level in the dam stands at 137.32 meters, according to officials from the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL).

The controlled release of water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam involved the opening of 23 gates, reducing the water level by 10 lakh cusecs. In addition to the Narmada River, other rivers in the region, such as Orsang, Heran, Mahi, Meshri, and Panam, have also experienced significant swelling and are flowing above their normal ranges due to incessant rainfall.

IMD Advisory

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for seven districts in Gujarat, including Panchmahal, Dahod, Kheda, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Banaskantha, and Sabarkantha. These districts are expected to receive heavy rainfall, posing a substantial risk of further flooding and related hazards.

According to the IMD, regions like Junagarh, Porbandar, and Gir Somnath may experience moderate rainfall, while areas like Ahmedabad, Mahesana, Gandhinagar, Patan, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Dahod, Chhota Udepur, Bharuch, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Rajkot, Amreli, Botad, Bhavnagar, Kutch, and Diu may witness light rain.

The situation in Gujarat remains critical, and authorities are actively engaged in rescue and relief efforts to minimize the impact of the flooding on affected communities.