The Tapti River (or Tapi) is a river in
central India located to the south of the
Narmada river that flows westwards before draining into the
Arabian Sea.
The river has a length of around and flows through the states of
Maharashtra,
Gujarat and
Madhya Pradesh.
[ It flows through Surat, and is crossed by the Magdalla, ONGC Bridge.
On 7 August 1968, before the construction of the ]Ukai Dam
The Ukai Dam, constructed across the Tapi River, is the second largest reservoir in Gujarat after the Sardar Sarovar. It is also known as Vallabh Sagar. Constructed in 1972, the dam is meant for irrigation, power generation and flood control. Ha ...
to bring its waters under control and provide hydroelectric power, the Tapti River overflowed its banks during heavy rains during the monsoon season. More than 1,000 people drowned in the flood, and the city of Surat was submerged beneath 10 feet of water for several days. After the floodwaters receded, at least 1,000 more people died in Gujarat during a cholera epidemic from the contamination of the drinking water. Its basin covers the parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Course
The Tapti River rises in Multai, in Madhya Pradesh, and has a total length of around .Girna
A ''girna'' (plural ''giren'') is a type of traditional corbelled hut found in rural areas in parts of Malta. They bear similarities with a number of dry stone vernacular building types found in other Mediterranean countries, and they are primar ...
, Waghur, Purna, Mona, and Sipna. They originate in the Gawilgarh hills, Ajanta hills, the Western Ghats, and Satmalas.
Etymology
The river is supposedly named after the goddess Tapati
Tapati ( sa, तपती, tapatī) is a goddess in Hinduism. She is known also as the goddess of the river Tapati and mother-goddess of the South (home of the sun) where she brings heat to the earth. According to certain Hindu texts, Tapati wa ...
, the daughter of Surya, the Sun god and Chhaya. Tapati is the sister of Shani, Bhadra
''Bhadra''Feminine: sa, भद्रा, Bhadrā is a Sanskrit word meaning 'good', 'fortune' or 'auspicious'. It is also the name of many men, women and objects in Hindu mythology.
Male Figures King of Chedi
Bhadra was a king of Chedi Kingdom ...
, Yamuna and Yama.
See also
* Gulf of Khambhat
References
External links
{{Authority control
Rivers of Maharashtra
Rivers of Madhya Pradesh
Rivers of Gujarat
Gulf of Khambhat
Rivers of India
Geography of Surat