SURAT, SEPT 18: At least a dozen persons have lost their lives and more are reported missing as there was a let up in the flood fury that left a trail of destruction in Surat.Level in the Tapi at Hope Pool was 86 feet, while in the Ukai reservoir it was 345.68 at 5 pm.Barring Amroli and Chhapra Bhata areas, water receded in the rest of the city on Friday. Those affected narrated incidents that exposed chinks in the armour of the administration which made tall claims of relief and rescue works in the affected areas.Though official figure of toll was only nine, senior police officials put the figure at 14. Army boats were still plying in the Amroli and Chhapra Bhata areas, while half the city was still reeling in darkness as authorities claimed to have swung into action to provide relief.A high-level meeting of representatives of all agencies including Telephones, Gujarat Electricity Board, Surat Electricity Company, Police, Health, Panchayat, Police and Regional transport office was held late inthe evening. The Air Defence Artillery personnel might be asked to leave tonight.Union Minister Kashiram Rana and additional chief secretary K V Bhanujan, who is looking after the rescue operations in Surat, said the enormity of the flood had forced the State Government to increase assistance from Rs 2 crore to Rs 4 crore.Surat Electricity Company said 125 of the 285 sub-stations, that were shut down due to water logging, were restored by afternoon and 40 others would be repaired by late evening. The rest would take two to three days. Gujarat Electricity Board claimed power was restored in 60 per cent of the localities. Emergency services like the water distribution centres, pumping stations, and water purification centres would be supplied power soon.The Katargam telephone exchange that was flooded was made operational while the Rander exchange that caters to thousands of telephones in Rander and Adajan areas would be restored by Monday if there was damage to equipment, Rana said. Important numbersin these areas would be connected to other exchanges.Surat Municipal Corporation which is running the show with 25 per cent of the staff asked for more personnel. As many as 650 safai kamdars from Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Rajkot will reach the city to assist the local civic staff.Authorities claimed de-watering in water-logged areas had started and 35 pumps had been brought to the city to take up the job on a warfooting. They are keeping a tab on the disease profile of the city by monitoring admissions into various hospitals, especially the New Civil Hospital. Canals and nicks are being carved to divert water in the water-logged villages.Milk supply resumed on Friday morning. Water started receding at around 10 pm on Thursday. Vegetable prices shot up as they were in short supply. Drinking water was being supplied to areas that were cut off.Bhanujan admitted that the disaster management plan drawn up after the 1994 flood had come a cropper. He said the plan needs to be updated as figuresquoted then were no longer relevant. The plan will have to be drawn afresh, not in Surat, but all other areas prone to natural calamities like flood, heavy rains and cyclones.Cash doles are being distributed. The amount fixed per family will not be more than Rs 1500 for 15 days, Bhanujan said. He claimed all affected persons would receive doles by Saturday evening.
