More than 3,000 people were stranded in various parts of Central Gujarat as gushing dam waters released by authorities, flooded large tracks of land since Saturday morning.
Though the situation in Surat has improved with water receding, high alert was sounded in districts of Anand, Kheda, Vadodara, Panchmahals (Godhra) and Ahmedabad, as the administration ordered release of 17 lakh cusecs of water into Mahi river from three separate dams -- Panam, Wanakbori and Kadana.
Slum dwellers on the side of river Sabarmati were evacuated in Ahmedabad. The district collector had asked people living in low-lying areas from Vautha to Ingoli villages to move to safer places.
More than 2,000 people are trapped in scattered villages of Lunavada and Shehra talukas of Panchmahals.
Rescue operations are on and about 24,000 food packets and 11,000 water pouches are being distributed, officials said.
Armymen were seen at work in Juna Bilitha and Juna Rabaria villages. At least 5,000 people have been shifted to safer places.
One person died when a house collapsed in Mari-Navapura area of Vadodara city.
Reports said as many as 200 people have been stranded in Dabka village in Padra taluka and another 500 in Vadodara's Kalave area.
Fire brigade teams have been rushed to the areas. Boats are being deployed to rescue them.
At least 40 people in Karoli village in Vadodara district had to take shelter on trees.
Boats could not be deployed to rescue them as thorny bushes were scattered all over the place, officials said.
Helicopters would be pressed into service to evacuate them, they said.
Near Vadodara, 16 villages have been affected.
Ajwa Sarovar is also swelling, 3 ft above danger mark. The Bhadar river is over-flowing and has affected road traffic between Jambusar and Bharuch.
Savli and Padra talukas in Vadodara district, Lunavada, Khanpur, Shehra and Kadana in Panchmahal (Godhra) district, Umreth, Borsad, Anklav and Anand of Anand district and Kheda and Matar in Kheda district have been affected by the release of flood waters.
Incessant rains have continued since Friday night over the region, with Kheda receiving 1,130 mm overnight.
Out of a total of 191 big, medium and small dams, 80 are on 'high alert' and 13 on 'alert'. Warnings have been issued for another 12.
Those reaching the 'alert' mark are filled up between 90 and 100 per cent. As many as 54 dams are completely (100 per cent) filled up.
Dams in Gujarat this year have stored water upto 83 per cent of total capacity, as against 66 per cent in the corresponding period in 2005.
