Left to fend for themselves in the absence of relief measures by the Government, people along the banks of the Sutlej have spent sleepless nights while keeping a vigil.Belying the Government’s claims that everything is alright, those affected say they have not got any relief and criticised the administration’s “passive approach”.Neogali’s Rakesh Kumar, whose house has been badly damaged, said not even a tent was made available. ‘‘It rained all night, so you can imagine our plight,’’ he said.Kailash Chand Sharma said Civil Supplies Minister Singhi Ram had dropped by in the morning for a brief while. But the minister said he visited Neogali in the afternoon and added that all help would be given to the affected.At Luri, around 45 km from Rampur, cloth merchant Harjinder Singh, who hails from Amritsar, said he had to keep his wares at a private house in the absence of alternative arrangements. Surinder Kumar, a shopkeeper, also said the administration provided no help, other than warning that ‘‘we should vacate our houses’’. He said the same thing had happened during the Sutlej flash floods in 2000.But Naib Tehsildar Parkash Chand says the affected have been extended all help. He said the government school and the forest office had been emptied to accommodate the affected.
