Monday, August 7 2006 17:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: The army was called in Monday to evacuate thousands of people from low-lying areas of Surat and Bharuch districts in Gujarat as the dams over Narmada and Tapti rivers have begun overflowing.

According to the flood control authorities, about 25,000 people were being evacuated from areas along the Tapti river bank in Surat city and nearby villages following rise in the water level.

The Ukai dam authority Monday began releasing 700,000 cusecs water, which might maroon the low-lying areas along the Tapti's banks.

Similarly, the Sardar Sarovar dam on Narmada was flowing at 127.4 metres danger mark posing flooding threat for 26 villages settled downstream.

D.S. Murlikrishna, Bharuch district administrator, said thousands of people would be shifted to safer places as the water level at the dam could reach 129 metres by Monday afternoon. The river was also flowing above the danger mark at many other places.

Due to incessant rains in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the rivers flowing from the east of Gujarat have been overflowing.