Authorities relocated 280 people from low-lying areas in Bharuch city on Monday after nearly 400,000 cusecs of water were released into the Narmada River from the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
The release followed a significant inflow from the Omkareshwar Dam in Madhya Pradesh, upstream on the Narmada. As a result, the water level in the Sardar Sarovar Dam reached 135.20 meters, just 3.48 meters below its maximum capacity of 138.68 meters, according to a state government release.
The Sardar Sarovar Dam, located near Kevadia in Narmada district, is currently receiving 368,000 cusecs of water, while 395,000 cusecs have been released into the Narmada River.
Out of the dam’s 30 gates, 15 were opened on Sunday night and eight more were opened this morning. Currently, 23 gates are open up to 2.2 meters to facilitate the discharge of 395,000 cusecs of water into the river.
Due to this substantial discharge and continuous rainfall, the Narmada River is flowing just below the danger level of 24 feet near Bharuch. As a precaution, authorities have relocated 280 residents from low-lying areas, according to Bharuch Collector Tushar Sumera.
“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.
As a precautionary measure, 280 residents living near the riverbank in Bharuch town were relocated to safer areas, Sumera said.
“We will allow them to return home once the water level is below 22 feet. We have deployed our teams in each taluka to monitor the situation and take necessary action,” Sumera said.
In the neighboring Narmada district, authorities have advised residents of 28 villages in the Nandod, Garudeshwar, and Tilakwada talukas to stay away from the riverbank, according to the release.