Beas breaches temporary embankment, floods 16 villages in Kapurthala’s Mand Area
Residents claimed that standing crops on thousands of acres were destroyed, and more than 5,000 people were shifted to safer places.
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According to official sources, the worst-affected villages are Baupur, Baupur Jadid, Baupur Kadim, Bhaini Bahadur, Kadar Baksh, Rampur Gaura, Sangra, Middhewal, and Passan Kadim. (Photo: ANI/File)The Beas river breached nearly 100 feet of a temporary embankment built by farmers to protect their fields, and flooded around 16 villages in Kapurthala’s Mand area, Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, who visited the affected areas, said on Tuesday.
According to official sources, the worst-affected villages are Baupur, Baupur Jadid, Baupur Kadim, Bhaini Bahadur, Kadar Baksh, Rampur Gaura, Sangra, Middhewal, and Passan Kadim.
Residents claimed that standing crops on thousands of acres were destroyed, and more than 5,000 people were shifted to safer places.
“The breach near Baupur village submerged standing paddy crops, which may cause a huge loss,” said Seechewal, adding: “Eight villages in the mand belt have suffered extensive crop damage, and many farmers took shelter on the Dhussi bundh and rooftops to escape the floodwaters.”
Seechewal said, “We have deployed a motorboat to rescue farmers, while volunteers are monitoring the water level as nearly one lakh cusecs
continues to flow in the Beas. The breach will be plugged once the water recedes.”
“Standing crops on thousands of acres are submerged under five to six feet of water. Farmers are waiting for relief from the administration,” said farmer Shamsher Singh from Baupur.
Surain Singh from Baupur Kadim urged the authorities to provide boats and relief material.
Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal, who toured the mand area on Tuesday, said, “The Dhussi bundh is intact and the breach would be repaired by the Drainage Department with farmers’ help once the water recedes.”
Travelling by tractor to Baupur Jadid, the DC reviewed flood prevention measures and noted that the Beas water flow remained stable at 1.05 lakh cusecs with no rise in the past 12 hours.
The DC assured farmers of full administrative support.
As a precaution, the DC ordered the closure of Government High School and Government Primary School in Baupur Jadid for two days.
“Relief centres have been identified, and arrangements for dry rations, green fodder, medicines and fully equipped relief camps have been made. NDRF and SDRF teams have been put on high alert,” the DC said.
“The administration has prepared about 20,000 sandbags by MGNREGA workers, while the Drainage Department is coordinating with Pong Dam and Harike Headworks officials to regulate water discharge,” he said.
“The Dhussi bundh is safe, and the administration is fully prepared to handle any situation,” the DC said, urging residents to remain calm and cooperate.
Meanwhile, the water level at Kangra was recorded at 1377.13 feet on Tuesday evening. The flow was 95,802 cusecs while the outflow was 57,087 cusecs.
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