The Government of Gujarat has announced that all educational institutions including schools and colleges will remain closed today, September 18, 2023. The district administration issued a notification to keep the educational institutions closed.
Following the release of water from the Narmada Dam, there have been several reports of flooding in multiple villages in the Narmada area. Due to the river’s rising flood levels, several villages along its course were put on high alert.
The fact that schools will be closed on September 19 in observance of Ganesh Chaturthi is another factor, in addition to the orange alert.
Will Gujarat Schools Remain Close on 19th September?
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall in Gujarat. IMD took to Twitter (X), “#Gujarat Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over various parts of the region on September 19. In this rainy season, the general public is requested to take weather-related precautions and avoid going to water-logged, unpaved roads and areas with heavy traffic. Be careful, stay safe!”
Other than the Narmada, rain-fed rivers like the Heran, Mahi, Meshru, Orsang, and Panam are overflowing due to severe rains that intensified with the dam’s water release. Low-lying settlements are consequently drowned by the flood.
NDRF Saving People’s Lives
Over 100 laborers trapped under a bridge along a river in the Panchmahal district and about 70 children from a residential school in the Narmada district were rescued by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local rescue teams from flooded areas.
An official had previously mentioned the potential for the Narmada Dam to release 19 lakh cusecs of water on September 16 night. As a result, the district government issued a directive ordering residents of low-lying Narmada-area villages (such as Shinor, Dabhoi, and Karjan tehsil) to move to safer locations.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has asked people to stay away from the waterlogging areas as there are high chances of floods due to continuous rainfall.
