How much exactly will be known once a survey to assess losses to industry logs its findings. Such a survey is in progress, says industries minister Anil Patel. The floods have been particularly harsh on Surat, industrial capital of Gujarat. A South Gujarat Textile Processors Association spokesman said the closure of the 100-odd processing units for just a day in the Pandesara area alone resulted in losses of Rs 15-20 crore. Surat's textile traders estimate losses in just one week to be Rs 200 crore.
Not just this, some 500 state and district roads are estimated to have suffered damages in varying degrees. The rail link on the Delhi-Mumbai route has also suffered very heavy damage, though round-the-clock efforts are on to restore services.
Irony is, while the deluge has wreaked such havoc on Gujarat, its 187 dams have received only about 33 per cent water of their capacity. It did not rain enough in the places that actually required a healthy downpour.
Apres le deluge, there's disease. Preventive measures are being taken. But though the flood might have receded for now, the Met department warns of a second spell of rain within a week. It's the one time the Gujaratis are praying they are wrong.
