Stay on high alert till Sept 5, Haryana govt directs field officers, cancels all leaves

The IMD has issued orange alerts for 18 districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Yamunanagar, Karnal and Ambala, and a yellow alert for another eight districts, such as Hisar, Sirsa and Kaitha. With rivers flowing close to or above danger marks, the state continues to witness one of its most intense monsoon phases in recent years.

The Yamuna River has seen a dramatic surge in water levels, with the Hathinikund Barrage recording a discharge of 329,000 cusecs, the highest this season, prompting the opening of all floodgates. Authorities blew sirens to warn nearby villages, advising residents and livestock owners to stay away from the riverbanks. Although the discharge reduced slightly by the afternoon, concerns remain high, especially for downstream areas like Delhi, which has been placed on alert due to the risk of flooding in low-lying regions.

In the evening, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini convened a meeting with all Deputy Commissioners to assess the current situation and emphasised the need for swift and effective action by the administration to mitigate the impact of the weather conditions.

Saini issued directives to ensure the safety and well-being of every citizen and all livestock, urging officials to remain vigilant and proactive.

The CM said, “In districts where schools have been ordered to close due to the adverse weather, the administration must strictly enforce complete closure to ensure public safety.”

“District administrations should make necessary arrangements for residents from Punjab, who may come into contact or seek shelter during this crisis, ensuring they receive appropriate support. To address potential shortages, adequate stockpiles of food grains and green fodder should be maintained across affected areas. To prevent flooding in residential areas, local administrations must implement all essential water management measures, including drainage and water removal systems. The Haryana Disaster Relief Force (HDRF) has been placed on high alert,” Saini said.

The chief minister directed, “All department heads are to stay fully prepared to respond promptly to any emergencies or requests for assistance.”

The chief minister stressed the importance of having medical infrastructure fully operational, along with ensuring the availability of a sufficient number of pumping sets to manage excess water and prevent further damage.

Addressing the public in Hisar earlier in the day, Public Health Engineering and PWD (B&R) Minister Ranbir Gangwa acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating that even “the Rain God seems out of control this time”. He, however, assured the people that the state government was working around the clock to manage the crisis.

The Markanda River in Kurukshetra is flowing just a meter below the danger mark and may see a significant rise in inflows in the coming days. The State Disaster Response Force has been deployed in several areas as a precaution, especially after the river overflowed two days earlier, affecting several villages.

Similarly, the Ghaggar River is flowing at danger levels in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Kaithal. In some areas, such as the Guhla-Cheeka region, water levels are nearing critical thresholds. The Tangri River in Ambala, although currently stable, had flooded residential areas just a few days earlier, raising concerns about renewed risks if rain continues.

The heavy rainfall also led to several incidents of structural damage and localised flooding.
In Sirsa, two walls of houses collapsed, and a breach in a minor canal submerged around 50 acres of farmland. In Yamunanagar, a roof caved in, but no casualties were reported.