Water levels starting to drop in flood-stricken Surat by Laura Gilchrist
As reported on Monday 7th August, heavy monsoon rains have caused flooding across a number of Indian states. One of the worst-hit areas is the western city of Surat, in the state of Gujarat.
After submerging 80 per cent of the city, which has a population of 3.5 million, the water is finally starting to recede in Surat. The floods, reportedly the worst to have ever hit Gujarat state, have left around 200 dead and many thousands without food, water, medicine, and electricity. Areas within the states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have also been badly affected, with transport and communication links cut.
The flooding occurred when rain-swollen rivers burst their banks, and after sudden releases of water from dams and reservoirs. While many farmers and land workers across India celebrate the irrigating rains that the southwest monsoon brings, for others the resulting floods can mean disaster, especially for those in poorly-built and dilapidated homes which cannot withstand the force of the water. A number of multi-storey properties in Surat have collapsed this week after the sodden ground beneath could no longer take the weight.
Despite falling water levels, more heavy rain could exacerbate problems. Rain is expected for parts of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh over the next couple of days, and for Maharashtra during the subsequent few days. The southwest monsoon itself will not begin withdrawing from northwest India until around the beginning of September.
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