WITH WIDESPREAD rains almost all over the state for the last one week, the two-year-long drought in Gujarat is finally over.
Many areas in the state, including the perennially parched Saurashtra and Kutch, have received moderate to heavy rainfall over the last few days.
The heavy rains in the south and central Gujarat areas have left many of the dams full while the medium and small dams are overflowing, the worst being the case of Pratap Pura Lake in Vadodara district.
About 1,100 people from three villages in the vicinity of the Pratap Pura Lake had to be evacuated as a nearly 100-feet long breach developed in the check dam-cum-reservoir that stores water for Vadodara district's irrigation and drinking water needs.
The breach developed on Monday as the reservoir overflowed and its water gushed out towards the three villages downstream, necessitating the evacuation.
According to minister for jails and rural housing Jaspal Singh, who visited the breach site this morning, the narrow approach road was posing difficulties for the materials and machinery to reach the spot for repairs.
Some persons have refused to be evacuated, as they were not willing to leave their homes and cattle behind.
The situation has eased since this morning as the water level has stabilised after the rains have stopped, said Singh.
Much of the overflowing water has been drained into the Vishwamitri river flowing through the city.
