Nihar Doctor says, "We are not told the facts about the release of water from Ukai dam, but I think when the reservoir was about be filled up the unprecedented rains started. I would say partly the crisis was due to heavy rains in the catchment areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh."
Another controversy that has come up is the siltation in the Tapti's riverbed.
Deviben, 75, says, "Since decades, people in South Gujarat have seen the heaviest monsoon and many floods but this time the situation was so scary that I am flabbergasted. I think neither the earthquake nor Surat plague was so fearsome."
The residentes were alerted by the city collector's office through sms and local television channels. The message said: `The current flood situation in Surat is much serious than in 1998, citizens are requested to take shelter in minimum height of 20 feet. -- district administrator, Surat.'
Sureshbhai Vashi, a civil engineer, reacted angrily while talking to rediff.com, "But once we are sent 20 feet above ground level, what did this government want us to do?"
Not a soul came to help, said all those who were on the terraces. Rather, on August 9 many hospitals released their patients and refused to take any responsibility for them.
The Citylight maternity hospital asked Sonibehn to take away her day-old child when the hospital got marooned.
She had to use a metal bucket to carry her baby out of the hospital with the kind help of neighbours.
Image: Women came out after the water receded a little to check on their jewellery shops which had been submerged for four days.
Earlier Slide Show:
Brothers and sisters we worship
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