Surat flood: some roads closed, schools-colleges not to open on Tuesday too

Surat, 23 September 2013

The situation of Tapi river flood was experienced only in some low lying areas of Surat on Monday including the Swaminarayan mandir locality. However in many other areas, reverse flow of gutter water caused water logging upto one to two ft.

The morning started with panicky for Surat citizens. Thanks to WhatsApp, SMS and mouth-to-mouth conversions, people apprehended year 2006 like flood, and rushed to stock up milk, vegetables and items of daily needs. There were long queues at shops, and at some places traders charged more due to shortage of stock. People started parking their cars on flyover to save them from possible flood.The Surat Municipal Corporation allowed this.

At 9.00 am the municipal commissioner and mayor addressed a press conference and denied any possibility of year 2006 like flood. Panic level was significantly down thanks to this press conference and its broadcast on local channels.

Around afternoon, people of Surat started moving here and there in city to witness flood.

Due to some rain, and uncertainty on what could happen in the evening, people were tense again.

The SMC has closed all flood gates, due to which in many areas gutter water was flowing in reverse direction. This caused 1 to 2 ft water logging in several areas.

In the evening, Pal to Bhatha road, Bhulka Bhawan-Hajira road and Parle point – Piplod – Dumas road were declared closed for traffic.

According to city School board chairman Atul Patel, DDO Dinesh Patel and Vice Chancellor Dakshesh Thaker, all schools and colleges will remain closed on Tuesday too in Surat due to flood situation.