Water released from Ukai, but no need to panic

Surat: Surat residents are reeling under fear with the release of 70,000 cusecs water from the Ukai reservoir due to heavy inflow of water from the catchment areas on Friday. However, Surat district collector Dhaval Patel has asked citizens not to panic as the water was being released gradually.
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has advised the residents in the low-lying areas to remain alert. The low-level weir-cum-causeway bridge connecting Rander and Singanpore was closed for vehicular traffic after it got flooded with the water level touching 8 m.
The water level at Ukai reservoir was at 332.50 feet against the rule level of 335 feet with the inflow of 1.36 lakh cusecs due to the heavy rainfall in the catchment areas.
H R Mahakal, superintendent engineer, Ukai reservoir told TOI, “We decreased the release of water from 84,000 cusecs to 70,000 cusecs at 5 pm. We may increase the outflow from the dam in case there is a rise in water inflow late on Friday night.”
Municipal commissioner, Banchhanidhi Pani said, “The civic officials and teams have been put on alert. The people in the low-lying areas close to the Tapi embankment must move to safer places. Otherwise, there is no need to panic for the residents in the city.”