Nayab Saini visits flood-hit areas of Haryana, says 1.69 lakh farmers registered for crop damages

Talking to media persons about the flood situation across Haryana, Saini said that his government is constantly monitoring the situation. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double-engine government is working in the interests of farmers. Earlier also, compensation was given to farmers by the government. This time too, the affected farmers will be compensated.”

“The Haryana government is standing with the people of the state. The e-Kshatipurti portal has been opened for the affected farmers. Through this portal, 1,69,738 farmers from 2,897 villages of the state have registered for more than 9.96 lakh acres. After verification, further action will be taken,” the CM said.

During his tour of the flood-affected areas of Kurukshetra including villages Tangor, Kathwa, Thol, Nalvi, and Kalsana, Saini instructed officials to prepare a special plan for a permanent solution to the problem of waterlogging. “Due to heavy rainfall in the hilly areas, water had accumulated here, creating waterlogging. The government is fully prepared to help citizens of the state in every situation. The capacity of the Markanda canal is 25,000 cusecs of water, but this time the water crossed 40,000 cusecs and flooded fields and nearby areas. All officers, public representatives, MLAs and ministers are reaching out to the people and helping them,” Saini said after inspecting the area.

Opposition leaders, however, demanded that the government should immediately reach for the rescue of affected farmers and ensure they are compensated at the earliest.

Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “It looks like at least 40 per cent of Haryana’s farmers have suffered crop loss. I demand that the government should fully compensate all the farmers by giving at least Rs. 60,000-70,000 per acre”.

Hooda also asked the central government to provide financial packages to all the monsoon-hit states including Haryana. “The state government should also demand that Union ministers come themselves to Haryana and assess the damage. Not cleaning the drains in villages and sewers in cities on time have led to the waterlogging and flooding in several areas. There is a flood-control board in place. It should have fulfilled its duty. The government should have been more cautious when there were heavy rainfall predictions,” he added.

The senior Congress leader also said that villagers are also complaining of e-Kshatipurti portal not being accessible. “Villagers in several areas are also suffering shortage of diesel. The state government should immediately order crop-damage assessment across all areas,” Hooda demanded.

AICC general secretary and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja, who visited flood-affected villages of her constituency on Saturday slammed the government for rain preparedness and not providing immediate relief to the affected people.

“The Ghaggar river in Sirsa district is in spate, due to continuous rain. Rainwater and the Ghaggar’s overflow have inundated many villages and fields. People are distressed. Farmers’ crops have been submerged and destroyed. There is an urgent need for government assistance, but regrettably, neither relief is being delivered to the villagers nor are there robust arrangements for flood protection. The government has left people to their fate, which is very worrisome and condemnable,” Selja said.

“A breach in the Ghaggar river’s ring has caused large volumes of water to flood farmers’ fields. Crops have been submerged, many houses are waterlogged, and villagers have suffered severe losses. The administration should immediately start relief operations and ensure concrete measures to pull the affected farmers and families out of this severe crisis,” the MP added.

Meanwhile, Saini urged everyone — the ruling party, Opposition, and common people — to maintain patience in this situation of calamity.

“Water is gradually receding in the waterlogged areas. About 3,000 villages in the state are affected by excess water. People whose houses were submerged have been shifted to safe places. Arrangements for their stay, food, drinking water, and other needs have been made. Apart from this, fodder for animals is also being arranged. Such a situation had also arisen in the state in 2023. Continuous cleaning of canals and drains is carried out, but this time due to excessive water flow from the hills, such a situation arose. It is unfortunate for the Opposition to do politics in such a disaster. In this situation, the Opposition should give suggestions and cooperate with the government,” he added.

Relief trucks dispatched from Hisar for rain-affected people in Punjab

Ten trucks loaded with relief material were dispatched from Hisar on Saturday for people-affected by heavy rains in Punjab. Public Works and Public Health Engineering Minister, Ranbir Gangwa flagged off the relief trucks carrying essential supplies.

“These consignments will be delivered to the needy in Amritsar (Rural) and Tarn Taran areas of Punjab. The relief materials include food items, tents/tarpaulins, medicines, and other daily essentials. Saini had earlier announced financial assistance for Punjab. Now, relief materials are being sent from various districts of Haryana to flood-affected areas of Amritsar, Firozpur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Jagraon, Moga, Khanna, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Patiala, Ropar, Batala, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Barnala, Malerkotla, and Sangrur,” Gangwa said.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker donates one-month salary for flood-relief

Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvindra Kalyan donated his one month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to support families affected by the recent floods in the state. He stated that “while the government is taking all necessary steps for relief and rescue, this is also a time for every section of society to stand with those in need”.  Kalyan appealed to all public representatives, officials, and employees to donate at least one day’s to one month’s salary as assistance so that flood victims can receive as much help as possible.

Flood situation in Haryana

Rivers at danger level: The Yamuna in Faridabad and the Markanda River in Kurukshetra were flowing at danger levels. The Ghaggar was overflowing in Kaithal and Sirsa. Soil erosion was reported in several areas of Sonepat, Karnal, and Yamunanagar.

Forecast of heavy rainfall: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rainfall in Hisar, Fatehabad, Sonepat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Jind, Kaithal, Yamunanagar, Ambala, and Panchkula. Rain continues in the areas of Hisar, Panipat, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Kurukshetra, and Ambala.

Four children rescued from drowning in Ambala: In Bhuni village of Ambala, five children were swept away while bathing in the Tangri river. Of the five children who are from Airu Khurd village in Punjab, four were rescued, and a search was ongoing for the fifth till evening on Saturday. Additionally, two people were swept away in a seasonal drain in Dukhedi village, and search efforts were underway till evening.

Channel wall breaks in Kurukshetra, crops at risk: In Jalbehra, Kurukshetra, a wall (siphon) of a channel link broke due to water flow. Out of nine walls on the bridge, one collapsed. Residents feared that if overflow continues overnight, water may flood the areas endangering 6,500 acres of standing crops.

Dam breach in Sirsa, fields submerged: A dam built on the Ghaggar river suffered a breach in Ahmedpur, Sirsa, leading to around 30 feet of erosion. Fields in the area were flooded. During rescue operations, a tractor fell into the water in the village located on the outskirts of Sirsa city, but the driver was rescued.

Army repairs drain in Bahadurgarh: In Bahadurgarh, the army was deployed since morning to repair the broken Mungeshpur drain near the Delhi border. Around 80 armymen and over 100 personnel from various government departments were involved in the repair works.

Rivers still above the danger mark: At Shahabad in Kurukshetra, the Markanda river recorded a flow of 26,889 cusecs by afternoon. The river was still flowing at the danger mark of 256 meters. In Ambala, the Tangri River was carrying 8,000 cusecs.

At the Ottu Head in Sirsa, the water level increased by 4,000 cusecs, reaching 27,400 cusecs this morning. In Kaithal, the Ghaggar rose to 23.6 feet — six inches above the danger level and was overflowing into nearby fields in several areas.

In Faridabad, the Yamuna was flowing at danger level, with 226,433 cusecs recorded this morning. 12 villages were affected by flooding, and 270 houses were reported completely submerged.

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