Gandhinagar, Gujarat has been experiencing heavy rainfall over the past few days. As a result, a total of 29 dams in the state are on high alert. Nineteen of these dams, located in Saurashtra and Kutch, are completely full. The situation has led to the closure of the Chhota Udaipur National Highway. This has affected state transport buses, resulting in the cancellation of 34 trips and the suspension of 11 routes. Between July 1 and July 6, over 3,700 people have been relocated due to the severe weather conditions.
Currently, there are 13 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 20 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed across 33 districts in Gujarat. Two NDRF teams are on standby. Fishermen in Gujarat have been warned not to venture into the sea until July 10 due to the adverse weather. The heavy rains have also disrupted electricity supplies, affecting 14,332 villages. Additionally, 20,292 electric poles, 1,073 transformer centres, and 20,111 feeders have been impacted.
The ongoing heavy rainfall has forced the closure of the Vadodara State Highway and the Chhota Udaipur National Highway. By 2 PM, eight other roads and a total of 249 roads operated by district, taluka, and gram panchayats were also closed for traffic.
Out of the 206 dams in the state, 29 are currently on high alert, 17 are on alert, and 17 are in warning mode. A total of 20 dams are completely filled, with 19 located in Saurashtra and one in Tapi. There are 43 dams filled to 70-100%, and 46 dams are between 25-50% capacity. Meanwhile, 48 dams have less than 25% water.
The recent rains have been beneficial for the state’s water storage. Reports indicate that the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which is crucial for Gujarat, has over 50% of its water storage capacity filled. Currently, the dam holds 1,69,240 million cubic feet (MCFT) of water, which is 50.66% of its total capacity. The overall status across all 206 dams shows there is 32.48% of the total storage capacity available.
As the monsoon continues, the government is monitoring the situation closely. Alerts have been issued for several dams that are nearing overflow. For instance, the Vaghadiya Dam in Jamnagar and the Vansal Dam in Surendranagar have reached full capacity, prompting high alert status.
In addition, five dams are reported to be at 80-90% capacity, including the Ozat-2 Dam in Junagadh and the Kalaghogha Dam in Kutch. Furthermore, five dams have been reported to be at 70-80% capacity, including the Fulzar-1 Dam in Jamnagar and the Aji-2 Dam in Rajkot.
The monsoon season is crucial for Gujarat, as it replenishes water resources and supports agriculture. Authorities urge residents to stay alert and follow safety guidelines during this period of heavy rainfall. Communities are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay informed through official channels regarding updates on dam levels and weather forecasts.
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