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Human calamity

Heavy rains lashed parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat reminding people of last year's deluge. The rains were caused by low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. This intensified into a deep depression, causing torrential rains in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat and Maharashtra suffered flooding. Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh also experienced floods. Partly, these were caused by water mismanagement: authorities released water from reservoirs after abnormally high rains in catchment areas.

In Gujarat, heavy rains resulted in many rivers and irrigation dams overflowing. Then, water was suddenly released from dams, flooding districts like Surat. Hundreds of lives were lost. The Gujarat High Court has asked the state government to give reasons for the floods. The court was responding to a petition, which contended that the administration did not release water in time from the overflowing Ukai dam on Tapi river. And, when the water was released, the river was in high tide, and so its capacity to take in water was low. Experts also believe that regular siltation has reduced the dam's capacity to store water.

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