A high alert has been sounded in around 15 villages of Bharuch district as the water level of Narmada river crossed danger mark in Bharuch town following rains in upstream Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra today. According to the officials in Bharuch collectorate, Narmada river was flowing at 27.5 ft which was above the danger mark of 24 ft at Golden Bridge in Bharuch town. The district administration reviewed the situation arising out of the increased water level in the river and decided to move 1,244 people living in low-lying areas to safer places. Meanwhile, Narmada dam near Kevadiya colony was overflowing at 127.95 mtr, nearly six mtr above its height of 121.90 mtr. Around two dozen villages in Narmada and Bharuch districts of central Gujarat have been put on alert. Around 7,86,000 cusecs of water was being released from the dam, of which 7,09,448 cusecs fall directly into sea, while remaining 76,552 cusecs flows to six river bed turbines for power generation, the officials added. UNI
