Tapti River

Tapti Tapi
Tapti or Tapi River at Surat.
Location
Country	India
State	Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat
Cities	Multai Nepanagar Burhanpur Bhusawal Mandvi Surat
Physical characteristics
Source	Multai, Madhya Pradesh
Mouth	Gulf of Khambhat (Arabian Sea)
• location	Dumas, Surat, Gujarat
Length	724 km (450 mi)approx.
Basin size	62,225 km2 (24,025 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	Dumas Beach1
• average	489 m3/s (17,300 cu ft/s)
• minimum	2 m3/s (71 cu ft/s)
• maximum	9,830 m3/s (347,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Girna, Nesu, Buray, Panjhara, Bori, Waghur, Purna, Mona, Sipna
• right	Arunavati, Vaki, Aner, Gomai

The Tapti River (or Tapi) is a river in central India located south of the Narmada River that flows westward before draining into the Arabian Sea.² The river is approximately 724 km (450 mi) and flows through the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.² It flows through the city of Surat in Gujarat, and is crossed by several bridges, including the Magdalla, and the ONGC Bridge.³

On 7 August 1968, before the construction of the Ukai Dam to bring its waters under control and provide hydroelectric power, the Tapti River overflowed its banks during heavy rains in the monsoon season. More than 1,000 people drowned in the flood,⁴ and the city of Surat was submerged beneath 10 feet of water for several days.⁵ After the floodwaters receded, at least 1,000 more people died in Gujarat during a cholera epidemic from the contamination of the drinking water.⁶ The Tapti basin covers parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The Tapti River rises in Multai, in Madhya Pradesh, and with a total length of 724 km⁷ is the second longest west-flowing river in India, after the Narmada River.⁸ The Tapti travels east to west and flows through the Indian states of .⁷ It drains into the Gulf of Khambhat, in the Arabian Sea, in Gujarat.² The Tapti River has 14 major tributaries, four are right bank and ten are left bank tributaries. The right bank tributaries originate in the Satpura range and include the Vaki, Aner, Arunawati, and Gomai.⁷ The left bank tributaries include the Nesu, Amravati, Buray, Panjhara, Bori, Girna, Waghur, Purna, Mona, and Sipna. They originate in the Gawilgarh hills, Ajanta hills, the Western Ghats, and Satmalas.⁷

The river is supposedly named after the goddess Tapati, the daughter of Surya, the Sun god and Chhaya. Tapati is the sister of Shani, Bhadra, Yamuna and Yama.⁹

Panorama of Tapi River in Surat city

Surat, Bhusawal, Burhanpur and Multai towns are located near Tapti River.