A high alert was sounded in low-lying areas of Ahmedabad and Panchmahals districts of central Gujarat on Saturday, following the release of large quantities of waters from two dams, officials said.

About 2.5 lakh cusecs of water was released from Dharoi dam into the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad district and nine lakh cusecs of water from Kadana dam in the Panchmahals, they said.

Thousands of people were evacuated from areas along the river and other low-lying regions since late Friday night, senior Ahmedabad fire brigade official Rajesh Bhatt said.

He said the situation was under control and not many residential societies in Ahmedabad had yet been affected.

A high alert was sounded in 20 villages of Panchmahals district and officials there warned people living in low-lying areas to move to safer places.

Over 3,300 people have already been evacuated.

Officials said water from Dharoi dam was released following heavy rains in Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts on Friday.

Heavy overnight rains in this region also caused Gangasagar lake in Sabarkantha district to swell. The waters blocked the Palanpur-Delhi highway, officials said.

Authorities also had to release nine lakh cuses of water from Kadana dam in Panchmahals district Saturday morning.