 In 1968, most parts of the city were flooded and in 1994 a flood caused a country-wide plague outbreak, Surat being the epicenter.In 1998, 30 per cent of Surat had gone under water due to flooding in Tapti river following release of water from Ukai dam located 90 km from Surat and in Aug, 2006 more than 95 per cent of the city was under Tapti river waters, killing more than 120 people, stranding tens of thousands in their homes without food or electricity and closing businesses and schools for weeks.The above details has been taken from "Brief Industrial Profile of Surat District"

According to the 2011 census Surat district has a population of 6,081,322, roughly equal to the nation of El Salvador or the US state of Missouri.