Surat, July 23 - A 'very rough Arabian Sea' warning for the southern Gujarat coast during the next 24 hours by the weather office has given Surat district officials a scare and reason to worry. If high tides in the Arabian Sea hit the coast, the 2006 devastating floods which occurred here could be repeated.

The 2006 disaster claimed more than 200 lives.

The high tides in the Arabian Sea push back the river waters of Koyali and Kankra which pass through many low lying localities of Surat while raising the danger of floods.

The Indian Meteorological Department in Gujarat warned that Wednesday's offshore 'trough on sea level' chart still persists from the southern Gujarat coast to Kerala's coast as the monsoon has been active over the Arabian Sea. This has raised the threat of frequent high tides during the next 24 hours, an official of the Surat district administration said.