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{{Infobox flood
| name = 2006 Surat Flood
| image = Gaurav Path under water.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = 
| caption = [[Gaurav Path]] flooded in water
| duration = {{start date|2006|08|07|df=y}}–{{end date|2006|08|10|df=y}}
| date = 
| damages = Rs. 9,500<ref name=":3" /> - 21,000<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=SANDRP|title=SURAT FLOODS: HOW IT WAS AN PREVENTABLE DISASTER|url=https://sandrp.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/surat_floods_aug-06.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616111912/https://sandrp.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/surat_floods_aug-06.pdf|archive-date=2020-06-16|access-date=2020-06-09|website=South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People}}</ref> crores
| fatalities = 120<ref name="citiscope.org" />-150<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=SANDRP|title=PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE REPORT|url=https://sandrp.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/people_committee_report_on_gujarat_flood_aug07.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616112101/https://sandrp.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/people_committee_report_on_gujarat_flood_aug07.pdf|archive-date=2020-06-16|access-date=2020-06-09|website=South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
*Unofficial figure as high as 500<ref>{{Cite news|last=Parth|first=M. N.|date=2019-02-05|title='We have to learn to live with floods': waterlogged Surat to become latest megacity|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/05/we-have-to-learn-to-live-with-floods-waterlogged-surat-to-become-latest-megacity|url-status=live|access-date=2020-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616112358/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/feb/05/we-have-to-learn-to-live-with-floods-waterlogged-surat-to-become-latest-megacity|archive-date=2020-06-16|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
| affected = [[Surat]]
}}
The '''2006 Surat flood''' occurred over 7–10 August 2006, which affected [[Surat]], India, and nearby villages. About 80–95% of Surat was flooded.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|title=State fails to find solution to Surat floods – Times of India|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/State-fails-to-find-solution-to-Surat-floods/articleshow/1929043.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2018-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308173510/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/State-fails-to-find-solution-to-Surat-floods/articleshow/1929043.cms|archive-date=8 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Citizens' reports indict Gujarat government for Surat floods|url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/reviews/citizens-reports-indict-gujarat-government-for-surat-floods-6606|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616105257/https://www.downtoearth.org.in/reviews/citizens-reports-indict-gujarat-government-for-surat-floods-6606|archive-date=2020-06-16|access-date=2020-06-09|website=www.downtoearth.org.in|language=en}}</ref>

The sudden release of a large amount of water into the [[Tapti River]] from the [[Ukai Dam]] caused the flood. The [[Government of Gujarat]] described the flood as a [[natural disaster]], while reports from the ''People's Committee on Gujarat Floods of August 2006'' and the ''Surat Citizens' Council Trust's Committee'', described the flood as being the result of mismanagement.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Mismanagement responsible for Surat flood, says report|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mismanagement-responsible-for-surat-flood-s/204462/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616105537/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mismanagement-responsible-for-surat-flood-s/204462 |archive-date=2020-06-16 |access-date=2020-06-09|website=archive.indianexpress.com}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2007-07-10 |title=2006 Gujarat flood was man-made disaster: PCGF Report |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/07/10/2006-gujarat-flood-was-man-made-disaster-pcgf-report-1184069322.html|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616105558/https://www.oneindia.com/2007/07/10/2006-gujarat-flood-was-man-made-disaster-pcgf-report-1184069322.html |archive-date=2020-06-16 |access-date=2020-06-10 |website=One India}}</ref><ref name="citiscope.org" />

== History of floods in Surat ==
In the 20th century the city of Surat has suffered from some 20 floods. The 1968 flood was one of the major floods with peak water flow of about 15 ''[[lakh]]'' [[cubic foot]] per second (cfs or cusec), while the 1970 flood had a peak flow about 13.14 ''[[lakh]]'' cfs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Mavalankar|first1=Dileep|last2=Srivastava|first2=Amit|date=2008-01-01|title=Lessons from Massive Floods of 2006 in Surat City: A framework for Application of MS/OR Techniques to Improve Dam Management to Prevent Flood|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46435876|journal=Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department, IIMA Working Papers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616111554/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46435876_Lessons_from_Massive_Floods_of_2006_in_Surat_City_A_framework_for_Application_of_MSOR_Techniques_to_Improve_Dam_Management_to_Prevent_Flood|archive-date=2020-06-16}}</ref>

The [[Ukai Dam]] was constructed in 1972, flood control was one of the objectives of the dam's construction.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-04-13|title=Water Resources Development Projects in Tapi Basin|url=http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/Tapi_projects.htm|access-date=2020-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413171140/http://www.nih.ernet.in/rbis/india_information/Tapi_projects.htm|archive-date=2016-04-13}}</ref> After the dam was constructed 90 km upstream from Surat, there were no major floods until 1994. The floods of 1978 and 1979 were effectively managed by the dam.<ref name=":0" />

In the 1998 flood more than 30% area of Surat was flooded due to the release of water from Ukai Dam.<ref name="citiscope.org">{{Cite web|title=What Surat learned from a preventable flood {{!}} Citiscope|url=http://citiscope.org/story/2015/what-surat-learned-preventable-flood|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308103442/http://citiscope.org/story/2015/what-surat-learned-preventable-flood|archive-date=8 March 2018|access-date=2018-03-08|website=citiscope.org|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

== Causes ==
Due to heavy rainfall during 2006 in upstream basin areas, the inflow at Ukai Dam increased. The water level of the dam reservoir was increasing rapidly. On the morning of 3 August, the reservoir had already crossed the prescribed rule level of {{convert|333.60|ft}}.<ref name=":4" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+Water level and flow at [[Ukai Dam|Ukai dam]] reservoir<ref name=":2" />
!Date (2006)
!Time
!Inflow (cfs)
!Outflow (cfs)
!Water level (m)
|-
| rowspan="2" |Aug 5
|8 am
|85,958
|26,664
|102.20
|-
|8 pm
|48,554
|23,640
|102.26
|-
| rowspan="2" |Aug 6 ||8 am ||75,087 ||124,920 ||102.14
|-
|8 pm|| 330,216 ||254,780 ||102.57
|-
| rowspan="2" |Aug 7 ||8 am ||853,679 ||409,004 ||103.46
|-
|8 pm ||1,072,680||816,036||104.22
|-
| rowspan="2" |Aug 8||8 am||1,053,133||844,092||104.97
|-
|8 pm ||961,466||907,316||105.33
|-
| rowspan="2" |Aug 9||8 am||856,000||850,000||105.34
|-
|8 pm||711,757||650,000||105.38
|}
The inflow at dam was 85,958 cfs on 5 August 8 am, then rises to 330,216 cfs on 6 August 8 pm. On the morning of 7 August it became 853,679 cfs.<ref name=":2" /> By that time the reservoir was already 90% full, leaving very little empty space left to accommodate the floodwater coming from upstream. The inflow was still increasing. The peak inflow during the flood was about 1,200,000 cfs, but it lasted only for two hours.<ref name=":1" />

Operating the gates of the dams increased the outflow rapidly. The outflow increased from 124,920 on 6 August, 8 am cfs, to 409,004 cfs on 7 August 8.00 am. Maintaining the same pace of increase the outflow was increased to a peak of 907,316 cfs at 8 pm on 8 August. The heavy outflow of about 900,000 cfs for a prolonged period of time caused the flood in Surat and other downstream villages. The high tide of the sea during the flood further reduced the drainage capacity of the river and worsened the damage due to flooding.<ref name=":2" />

The [[Government of Gujarat]] described the flood as a [[natural disaster]], while reports from the ''People's Committee on Gujarat Floods of August 2006'' and the ''Surat Citizens' Council Trust's Committee'', described the flood as being the result of mismanagement.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name="citiscope.org" />

== See also ==

* [[2005 Gujarat flood]]
* [[2017 Gujarat flood]]
* [[2019 Vadodara flood]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*[https://sandrp.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/surat_floods_aug-06.pdf SURAT FLOODS: HOW IT WAS AN PREVENTABLE DISASTER], [https://sandrp.in/themes/floods/ SANDRP-South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People]
* [https://sandrp.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/people_committee_report_on_gujarat_flood_aug07.pdf PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE REPORT, SANDRP-South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People]
*[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/46435876_Lessons_from_Massive_Floods_of_2006_in_Surat_City_A_framework_for_Application_of_MSOR_Techniques_to_Improve_Dam_Management_to_Prevent_Flood Lessons from Massive Floods of 2006 in Surat City]

{{Surat topics}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Natural disasters in India, 2006 disasters in India, History of Gujarat (1947–present), 2006 floods, History of Surat, Floods in Gujarat
|description=
}}

[[Category:Natural disasters in India]]
[[Category:2006 disasters in India]]
[[Category:History of Gujarat (1947–present)]]
[[Category:2006 floods]]
[[Category:History of Surat]]
[[Category:Floods in Gujarat]]

2006 Surat flood - Revision history

MetaBOT at 16:49, 8 July 2023