Gujarat Rain: Sardar Sarovar Dam Water Level Rises, 23 Gates Opened; Coastal Villages on High Alert

Narmada: The water level at the Sardar Sarovar Dam has surged to 135.30 meters, prompting the opening of 23 of its 30 gates for the first time this season. The dam, located near Kevadia in Narmada district, is receiving a significant inflow of 3.68 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water, while 3.95 lakh cusecs are being released into the Narmada River, according to a release by the Gujarat state government.

This increase in water levels follows a massive inflow from the Omkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh, pushing the storage in Sardar Sarovar to just 3.48 meters below its full capacity of 138.68 meters. The dam's gates were progressively opened, with 15 gates raised on Sunday night and an additional eight on Monday morning. These 23 gates are currently open to a height of 2.2 meters to manage the discharge.

The heavy discharge, combined with ongoing rainfall, has caused the Narmada River to swell dangerously close to the 24-foot danger mark near Bharuch town. Bharuch Collector Tushar Sumera reported that 280 residents from low-lying areas have been evacuated as a precaution. "Heavy rains have lashed Bharuch in the last two to three days, and the showers will continue for the next two days. Moreover, nearly 4 lakh cusecs water was released in Narmada, and it touched the danger level of 24 feet at the Golden Bridge in the afternoon. Luckily, the water level has come under that mark within an hour," Sumera told reporters. He added that residents will be allowed to return home once the water recedes below 22 feet.

In response to the rising water levels, authorities in Narmada district have issued an alert to 28 villages in the Nandod, Garudeshwar, and Tilakwada talukas, urging residents to avoid going near the riverbanks.

Rescue Operations in Ahmedabad Amid Heavy Rains

In a separate incident in Ahmedabad, heavy rains led to the rescue of 25 people, including two children, from a bus stranded in 1.5 meters of water at the Parimal underpass. The rescue operation was successfully carried out by the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES), ensuring all passengers and the driver were safely evacuated.

Flooding and Alerts in Gujarat

Heavy rainfall continues to affect several parts of Gujarat, including Surat, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara. The incessant downpours have caused flooding on National Highway 41, prompting the Gujarat state government to issue a red alert for the region. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with teams deployed across the state to manage the ongoing crisis.