Narmada can’t hold, Vidarbha counts drops

As the dam overflowed, crowds of people, including picnickers, mediapersons and government officials, flocked to the site.

‘‘I got to know that the dam would overflow by Thursday night. So I came down with my family this morning to enjoy the beauty of the overflowing dam,’’ said Kishore Darji, a Vadodara-based businessman.

Apart from the dam site, people also thronged the rock-fill dykes encircling the Sarovar. These have been developed by the government with proper sitting arrangements. ‘‘It’s a pretty sight with the green hills forming the backdrop of the huge lake. We just don’t feel like going back to the city,’’ said Ashok, who was picnicking with his wife Reema.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government helped shift villagers from Manibeli village in Maharashtra, even as many more villages came in the submergence zone.

With the outflow in the river expected to increase by over 2 lakh cusecs in the next couple of days, the authorities have sent out an alert for the villages (located on the riverbank) in Narmada, Bharuch and Vadodara districts. Bharuch being the most vulnerable town, the authorities have kept ready boats, life-saving jackets and has even asked for a column of Army to be deployed there in case of any eventuality.