Punjab rains: In Ludhiana, schools closed today, swelled Buddha Nullah wreaks havoc in city; villages near Sutlej also on tenterhooks

Ludhiana recorded 56 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours, according to the data on IMD Chandigarh website. According to the forecast, it is expected to remain cloudy on Monday and Tuesday as well with “one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.”

As a precautionary measure, Gujjars living on the banks of river Sutlej at Sidhwan were rescued and shifted in presence of ADC Jagraon Amit Sareen.

The Ludhiana district administration also rescued 22 people (including five women and four children) from the village Sensowal Khurd near Machhiwara. They had gone to sow paddy in fields on the other side of the river in Nawanshahr and got stuck when the water levels rose.

A boat was sent and 22 persons were safely brought back to village Dhulewal.

Meanwhile, several acres of paddy fields, mostly located at the banks of the Sutlej, were damaged and some link roads were also flooded in Machhiwara. Some of the affected rural pockets included Mand Sheriyan, Pvaat, Shergarh and others.

In city areas, the polluted stream Buddha Nullah, which crosses the heart of Ludhiana, continued to overflow and created havoc in several residential areas with its black, polluted waters entering the streets. In the rural areas, the villages on the banks of Sutlej river were put on alert as the river swelled.

People living in low lying areas near Buddha Nullah placed sandbags outside their homes and installed barricades to avoid the nullah water from entering their house.

Several areas in the city including Deep Nagar, Madhopuri, Kundanpuri, Chander Nagar, Gaushala Road, Dhoka Mohalla, and other adjoining areas were flooded with the dirty water after nullah overflowed due to continuous rains. In several areas, roads and streets were flooded with knee-deep waters.

Ludhiana deputy commissioner Surabhi Malik said that there was no need to panic and Ludhiana administration was fully geared to tackle any flood like situation. She said that teams of MC and drainage department were working tirelessly to ensure that there is no water-logging in the city and district, respectively.

“Water has been released from Ropar Headworks which reached Ludhiana around noon. The nearby panchayats are advised to stay on alert and that no one should go near the embankments,” said a statement from administration.

In addition, due to increased level of flow in Budhha Dariya, the vigil has been increased specifically at low lying areas and houses/jhuggis on the banks of the stream.

“All teams are on standby; all revenue functionaries are getting munadi done and identifying high ground for relief camps if needed. The district Administration is also tying up with NDRF, PWD, NGOs/industrial associations/ gurdwaras for immediate help, if needed,” said Malik.