In August 1979 the Machchhu Dam in Gujarat burst and flooded the nearby town of Morbi. Thousands of people perished and there was widespread damage to property and farmland. In response to this disaster, Pramukh Swami Maharaj initiated an immediate response to support the Gujarat Government in helping the victims. Under his leadership, over 1,500 BAPS volunteers spent weeks in torrid conditions assisting in numerous ways. The sacred River Narmada is a major wellspring and lifeline for the people of Gujarat. The construction of an essential dam to harness its full potential for the benefit of even the most remote corners of Gujarat was proposed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1946 but was only commenced in 1961.