Bhavnagar: As of 1st June, the Shetrunji Dam in Bhavnagar district was just above 40 percent full, with its water level at 51.90 m against the full reservoir level of 55.53 m. However, due to very heavy rainfall in recent days, the dam is now nearly 94.52% full. As of 2 pm today, the dam, which has a design gross storage capacity of 346.48 MCM, has reached 327.51 MCM (present gross storage).

The Rule Level, meaning the permitted level up to which the dam can be filled by 1st July, is 55.25 m, and this has already been achieved as of 2 pm. Therefore, no further storage is being allowed. This means the dam will likely not reach its 100% storage capacity anytime soon, as water release has already begun. At 2 pm, over 5,300 cusecs of water was being released, matching the inflow rate.

Earlier this morning at 6 am, the dam was over 75% full, with the water level at 54.20 m. The monsoon season in Gujarat officially began on 16 June, and Shetrunji Dam has already achieved 95% of its storage capacity very early in the season. This is a good sign as the dam plays a crucial role in supplying water to Bhavnagar city and other areas of the district.

Gadhada in Bhavnagar recorded extremely heavy rainfall of 13.50 inches in less than 24 hours on Monday, followed by Palitana with 11.85 inches, Sihor 11.57 inches, Jesar 10.71 inches, and Umrala 10.39 inches — all in Bhavnagar district. Mahuva received 9.02 inches, Valbhipur 6.30 inches, Talaja 5.91 inches, Gariadhar 5.91 inches, and Bhavnagar city recorded 3.43 inches during the same period. Rescue operations were carried out by the administration in places like Talgajarda in Bhavnagar to evacuate people stranded by flash floods to safer locations. — DeshGujarat