Punjab: CM Mann asks Chief Secretary to personally visit flood affected areas

Sources said that he asked Sinha to visit the flood affected areas personally, “He asked him to be stationed there. He told him that when the top officer of the government supervises a work personally, the work is done more effectively,” said a source.

Mann asked the deputy commissioners and other officers to ensure that the directions of this panel are implemented earnestly to provide relief to the people. The CM said that the heavy flow of water from the hilly areas has created havoc for the state, adding that 14.11 lakh cusecs of water have been received in the Ravi river till date.

Mann said that his government has already written to Haryana and Rajasthan to draw the maximum water from the rivers.

Villages worst-affected by the floods were in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar districts.

Mann said that the Indian Army and 17 NDRF teams have already been deployed in the affected districts for rescue operations.

During the meeting, Mann was apprised by the officials that continuous on-ground operations are underway to evacuate people stranded in floods, assess damage and check the outbreak of disease.

Mann directed that the breaches along the flooded rivers should be plugged and that medical teams should provide preventive care against diseases in every village.

Mann also said that water tankers for providing clean and potable drinking water, ration kits and other essentials should be provided in the innundated villages.

Mann further said that veterinary teams should also be deployed in large numbers for the treatment and vaccination of the affected cattle, deworming of the animals and provision of feed/fodder.

MLAs undertake relief work

Cabinet Ministers and local MLAs reached flood-affected areas to lead and support the district administration as well as extend aid to the people. Relief in the form of food, fodder for cattle, medicines and other essential supplies is being delivered to the affected families, a government statement said Friday.

Forest Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak visited villages Bamial and Narot Jaimal Singh in Bhoha constituency to review the damages. He assured the people that the state government stands firmly with them in this hour of crisis and that compensation will be given for all losses suffered during the floods. He also said that special girdawari will soon be carried out to assess the damage to houses and crops and adequate financial assistance will be provided.

Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian visited flood-hit areas of Sultanpur Lodhi including villages Kammewal and Baguwal. He met affected families, listened to their hardships and distributed tarpaulins, mosquito nets, ration kits and other essentials.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh flagged off relief trucks for flood-affected areas in the presence of the Mayor, Chairman and other dignitaries.

Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar personally supervised relief distribution in flood-affected villages near Tarn Taran and assured the people that compensation will be released promptly after damage assessment.

Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond visited flood-hit Gulaba Bhaini village and nearby hamlets in Fazilka constituency. He distributed relief material to affected families besides dispatching a truck carrying feed from Khanna for livestock assistance. Earlier, he reviewed the detailed report from the district administration and instructed that all forms of government aid must reach the people without any delay.

Complying with the directions Mann, the Sri Muktsar Sahib district administration dispatched two relief trucks from the District Administrative Complex, flagged off by MLA Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar. The trucks carried nearly 1000 ration kits for flood-affected families in Fazilka district containing wheat flour, tea, sugar, pulses, edible oil and other essential daily-use items.

The Amritsar district administration, with support from the Red Cross, distributed 45,000 water bottles and more than 17,000 food packets. Besides this, the Animal Husbandry Department in collaboration with Punjab Agro supplied 100 quintals of dry fodder and 850 feed bags of 50 kg each.

In Mansa, 163 people have been accommodated in the relief centre at village Khattriwala, Budhlada. Fodder and medicines have also been arranged for livestock.

In Barnala, MLA Labh Singh Ugoke dispatched 1000 ration kits for Ferozepur. In village Wajidke Khurd, where many kachha houses are located, a temporary relief camp was established at the local dharamshala.

In Kapurthala, 240 families were evacuated from floodwater and 1250 ration kits were distributed. Livestock fodder including 600 quintals of silage and 300 quintals of feed was also provided.