Punjab rains: Border villages along Sutlej on alert

Even though Fazilka has not received heavy downpours so far, it is still considered to be in danger of floods because of the course of the Sutlej River which passes through the border district.

Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh dams have caused the release of water. On Sunday, Ropar headworks released water which has to reach Fazilka via river Sutlej in the next 24 hours, according to DC Duggal. “On Sunday Harike headworks in Ferozepur released 20,000 cubic per second (cusec) water while on Monday they will be releasing 25000 cusecs more which eventually will reach Fazilka villages crossing Ferozepur villages as per the course of the river. Hence we have advised a few vulnerable villages to shift to safer places. These villages get affected the most in case of flood-like situation,” she said.

Similarly in Ferozepur, DC Rajneesh Dhiman visited around 20 border villages along Sutlej in Hussainiwala area and asked the villagers to shift to safer places along with their animals. “Administration has set up flood control rooms and will be helping the villagers in going to safer places. We have told them to stay alert as water released from Ropar headworks eventually has to be released ahead from Harike headworks towards these border villages. The Border Security Force is also alert in this area along with district administration,” he said.

Villages such as  Gajniwala, Gatti Mattar and Dona Mattar were also visited by the deputy commissioner of Ferozepur.

Faridkot, Moga

A link road between Bhaloor village of Moga and Faridkot district built under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna caved in Sunday afternoon breaking connectivity through the road. On Saturday, rainwater from about four 3-4 flooded the area. Bhaloor village situated on the lower side may have caused the caving in of the road.

Additionally, over 1000 acres of agriculture fields of Bhaloor village have been inundated with rainwater, according to the villagers

Sangrur

Punjab Water Resources Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer Sunday said that the water resources department was fully prepared to deal with any untoward situation due to the increased water level in the reservoirs of the state. He assured that the situation was under control and advised people not to panic.

He said around Rs 5.5 crore have been spent on prevention works only in Sangrur district, adding that satisfactory buffer was available till the maximum level of dams.

The minister, on a visit to the banks of Ghaggar river, was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal and SDM Suba Singh along with officials of the department. He visited Moonak-Tohana Bridge in Ghaggar and banks at Makraur Sahib.

Deputy Commissioner Jetinder Jorwal stated that in the garb of the rainy season, industries shouldn’t discharge industrial effluents in the river without treating them. He stated that strict action will be taken against the violators.

Meanwhile, waterlogging was reported in a few areas of the city after incessant rainfall on Saturday and Sunday.

Bathinda

Waterlogging in a few low-lying areas was reported on Saturday as the city areas lack storm sewers. The seepage of rainwater into sewer lines is considered to add further load on sewerage treatment plants.

Three Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) employees sustained burn injuries Saturday after a transformer in the 66kV grid station caught fire, spilling hot oil on them, while repair work was underway in Golewala, Bathinda. The reason for the accident is yet to be ascertained.

“One employee has got 65 per cent burns and is critical while two others have got 35 and 25 per cent burns respectively. We have formed a committee to find out the reason for the fire in the transformer,” said Director Distribution, PSPCL PS Grewal, who visited them Sunday at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot. Punjab speaker Kultar Sandhwan announced free treatment for injured employees.