With the water level decreasing in the flooded city, a total of 25 bodies have been recovered so far and the extent of death and devastation will be known only after the water completely recedes, police said on Friday.
"A total of 25 bodies have been recovered so far in different parts of the city. Though water has receded from many parts of the city, two areas Rander and Adjan are still under the flood and we might get more bodies from there once the water recedes," Commissioner of Police Sudhir Sinha said.
These two areas in the vicinity of the river were the most affected where water level was more than 20 feet deep.
Meanwhile, pathetic scenes were witnessed in the city as people who stranded for the last four days came out of their houses in large numbers to get essential items like water, food, milk and medicine. But the demand far exceeds the supply.
The army has been carrying on rescue operations and are also dropping food and water packets to those stranded in buildings surrounded by waters.
Member of Parliament from Surat, Kanshiram Rana said "the priority is to provide food and drinking water to the people and restore electric supply".
{{/usCountry}}Member of Parliament from Surat, Kanshiram Rana said "the priority is to provide food and drinking water to the people and restore electric supply".
{{/usCountry}}The biggest challenge now before the administration is to prevent outbreak of an epidemic, as the drinking water is highly polluted, official sources said.