In Punjab, villagers shift cattle to higher ground, kin to safe areas; rescue operation on

In Ferozepur, several villages situated near the Sutlej river continued to remain inundated. The district administration with the help of NDRF, Army and BSF rescued more than 2,500 villagers belonging to Kamale Wala, Ali ke, Gatti Raji ke, New Gatti Rajo ke, Chandi Wala, Jhugge Hajara Singh Wala, Jallo ke, Bhane Wala, Bhakhra, Tendi Wala, Metab Singh, Sheene Wala, Churi Wala, Khunder Gatti, New Bare ke, Peer Ismail Khan, Machhiwara and other villages during the last two days.

The ‘Samadhi’ of ‘Punjab Mata’ Vidyavati (mother of Shaheed Bhagat Singh) situated near national martyrs’ memorial, and open air theatre where the light and sound show used to take place, got submerged up to six feet.
More than 2.30 lakh cusecs water was released from Harike headworks downstream on Saturday while 2.82 lakh cusecs water was released from Hussainiwala headworks downstream, the officials said.

Ferozepur deputy commissioner Rajesh Dhiman said the evacuation of the villagers to relief camps is the first priority of the administration. “We are also trying to provide dry ration for the villagers and green fodder for their animals also with the help of various non-government organisations,” Dhiman said.

The residents belonging to the flood affected villages are recalling the terrifying memories of 1988 floods when the entire Ferozepur had got submerged in floods. “I still remember the chaos of 1988 floods when this entire area had got submerged into water up to 5-6 feet. Though every year we face situations of floods in this area but this year, it reminded me of 1988 fury,” said Sucha Singh (70), a resident of Village New Gatti Rajo ke.

Gurdaspur DC Himanshu Aggarwal said it was a matter of relief that floodwaters have receded in most of the areas. Power supply has also been restored, he stated, adding that the work on plugging a breach along the Bear river is 90 per cent complete.

While officials said that water level was decreasing in Beas river, on the ground, villagers are still struggling to keep their head above water.

The flood water entered the houses in villages of Ferozepur district and with locals moving to their relatives’ place in the high plain. They have also shifted their cattle to higher ground.
The Indian Express talked to Manpreet Singh of Bandala village who said, “Our house is surrounded by water. I heard Cainet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal saying that the water level was decreasing. On the contrary, water has entered our homes”,

He said, “I have shifted the cattle to a higher ground place, besides moving the family to our relative’s house.”
Speaking to The Indian Express, one Kulwinder Singh from Bandala said, “There are some patches along the Amritsar-Bathinda and Makhu-Ferozepur highway where the cattle from our village have been kept to save them from flood water. I have shifted my two children to my in-law’s place in Zira.”

There are 18 families (comprising 85 members) staying in the relief camp set up at the Government Senior Secondary School Purana Shala in Gurdaspur district.

“Water has entered our house. I work as farm labourer. Farming land is under water. Farmers will somehow survive on their livestock. How will we survive?” asked Rani Kaur who is put up at the relief camp in Purana Shala. She is from Kannuwal village.

Many farmers in Gurdaspur’s affected areas have taken their animals to the dhussi bandh as water has entered their homes.

DC Agarwal earlier met with families staying at the relief camp. Speaking to the The Indian Express, Agarwal said, “Families staying at the relief camp are being well looked-after. Apart from providing three-time meals a day, other necessities like tea, drinking water, and others are also being provided. Special arrangements have been made for electricity and water supply. Additionally, the Health department and the Army have set up medical rooms to provide medical services.”

In Hoshiarpur, the situation has started improving in flood-hit areas of Talwara, Mukerian, Dasuya, and Tanda. Hoshiapur DC Komal Mittal said flood waters have receded significantly, and residents have returned to their homes from relief camps, except for the village of Abdullapur in the Tanda area. Several relief camps are still operational in the flood-affected regions.

With inputs from PTI.

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