Buddha Nullah overflows, sweeps 16-year-old away; 200 MC staff put on alert

The teen was later identified as Sukhpreet Singh Sokhi of Chakki village, who officials said was a Class IX student. Samrala DSP Waryam Singh said that the teen and two of his friends were taking a bath in the overflowing stream, despite having been warned against doing the same by at least two onlookers “The boy was swept away by strong currents,” said the DSP. He added that divers had been brought in to trace the boy but he hasn’t been found yet. Villagers told police that the boy was living with his grandparents after the death of his father.

Meanwhile, the Buddha Nullah breached its banks at several points across rural and urban areas, keeping the administration and Municipal Corporation officials on their toes since Monday night.

A breach in Buddha Nullah was reported on Tajpur road (near city bus workshop) late on Monday, as water spilled on roads and entered residential areas nearby. Ludhiana municipal commissioner Shena Aggarwal said that the civic body was keeping 24×7 vigil on Buddha Nullah and the breach on Tajpur road was reported around 10.30 pm on Monday. “It was due to excessive flow of water from upstream areas. The breach was plugged using sandbags and earth movers. Over 200 civic body employees are on night duty to keep an eye on the situation,” she said.

A bridge over Buddha Nullah was also damaged near Gaddowal village in Koomlalan tehsil following which it was temporarily closed for commuters. Aggarwal said that PWD has been asked to start repair works on the bridge at the earliest.

Another old bridge over Buddha Nullah at Bhukri Kalan collapsed and was completely washed off as the stream continued to overflow in Ludhiana.

Ludhiana deputy commissioner Surabhi Malik said that to cater to the immediate need of food packets for displaced and stranded people in Ludhiana and Moga districts, the Verka Milk Plant had been asked to prepare packets of biscuits, water, dry milk, pinni, spoons, bread, cups, candles and matchsticks for distribution.

District food and supply controller, Sanjay Sharma, said that they were equipped to prepare at least 5000 packets daily but the numbers can increase depending on demand.