2 breaches in Ghaggar in Mansa threaten to flood nearby villages

It may be noted that while Chandpura is in Haryana, the Dhussi Bundh (earthen embankment) is being maintained by Punjab.

“After these three villages, Punjab villages start from Budhlada constituency of Mansa district. Now, the three villages of Haryana and the villages of Punjab that are likely to be affected are collectively making efforts to plug the breach,” said one Mohit Sidhani from Sidhani village of Fatehabad district (Haryana).

On Saturday, Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal came down heavily on the Mansa district administration for failing to take requisite steps to strengthen the bundh. On Thursday, Harsimrat Kaur Badal had visited the bundh site and advised the authorities to take corrective measures before it breaches.

“I had visited the area near the Chandpura dam following an appeal by residents on July 13 and also rang up the deputy commissioner to inform that the water level at the spot was increasing at a rapid pace and that urgent measures were needed to strengthen the bundh. But nothing was done for two days following which the embankment breached on Saturday morning. Now with a 40-foot breach in the embankment, floodwaters are threatening 35 villages in its vicinity and the Budhlada and Baretta areas are expected to be severely affected,” Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, adding that similarly the Ghaggar had also breached at Rorki due to which around 12 villages of Sardulgarh are reeling under threat of floods.

Villagers are busy making temporary bundhs outside their villages so as to stop water from entering their areas.

Kullrian is the first village of Mansa from Chandpura dam side.

Meanwhile, villagers are busy making temporary bundhs outside their villages so as to stop water from entering their areas.

“It has affected the fields of only one village of Budhlada as of now. The situation is under control,” said Mansa Deputy Commissioner Rishipal Singh.

The administration authorities said that they are ready with relief material for 10 villages. They have also appealed to the people to move to safer places.

In Sangrur, the Ghaggar river had breached its banks at five places on two consecutive days, affecting over 20 villages, but on Saturday the floodwaters started receding, revealed information from villagers.

Hushiyar Singh Salemgarh, a resident of Salemgarh village, said, “The water level has started receding, but we are getting relief from only villagers and not from the administration. People are coming on tractors from as far as Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. They are bringing dry ration, fruits, vegetables, cooked food, sanitary napkins, matchsticks and others.” People are coming from Barnala, Malerkotla and Sangrur villages as well.

In Ferozepur district also, the floodwaters have receded in most villages. However, in a freak incident on Friday evening, one Jatinder Singh was curiously watching the rising water level when his feet accidentally slipped and he drowned in full view of the other people standing there. Information revealed that onlookers kept on shooting his video of drowning, instead of rescuing him.

In Ferozepur, border villages were flooded due to release of more water from Harrike headworks into Sutlej river. Ferozepur and Fazilka are on the banks of the Sutlej.

In Ferozepur villages, villagers alleged that many of them were not given boats to move out. Former BJP MLA Sukhpal Singh Nannu had also alleged the same.

Meanwhile, appealing to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to direct the civil administration to take urgent steps to plug the breach, besides undertaking relief measures, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, “There are widespread reports that the Punjab government machinery is not reaching out to the flood-affected people in time. As a result, the suffering of the people has increased manifold. The chief minister must review the situation immediately and take necessary action to mitigate the problems of the people.”

She also made a fervent appeal to the government to allocate all the funds earmarked for advertising – which are in crores – to flood relief measures, besides calling for an end to ‘government’s photo ops and publicity stunts’. “Punjab has had enough photo ops. Now what we need is some concrete relief measures,” said Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

She also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allocate additional funds for flood relief measures in Punjab.

“Right now we have a situation in which the CM is announcing that he will not ask for funds from the Centre due to which the people are suffering. The CM should not shy away from asking for central funds to provide solace to people in this hour of crisis. I also appeal to the PM to allocate additional funds to help Punjabis in distress,” the Bathinda MP said.

The Punjab government should coordinate with its Haryana counterparts, especially the civil administration of the neighbouring district of Fatehabad (Haryana), in the interest of people’s welfare, she added. She also appealed to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to cooperate with Punjab.