Punjab virtually remained submerged in water on Monday also as intense rains continued to lash the region for the third consecutive day. Troubles poured for the people across the state, especially in Jalandhar, Ropar, Nawanshahr, Moga, and Ludhiana areas as water level in undulating Sutlej river created a flood like situation and threw life out of gear.
The schools remained closed and people confined to their houses in the urban areas, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in collaboration with the Army and the District Administration carried out evacuation process in the affected areas.
Even through the Indian Metrological Department (MET) has predicted heavy rains in isolated places across Punjab, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) may be compelled to increase the quantum of water discharge from the Bhakra Dam to prevent the rising of the water level in the reservoir which is already filled beyond the permissible limits.
As the rains subsided by the morning, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday assessed situation in Ropar, and later held detailed meeting with the top officials issuing slew of directions to tackle the situation.
Besides, the state Water Resources Minister Sukhbinder Sarkaria had also visited Ropar and Phillaur to review the situation.
The state Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh maintained that the overall situation was being monitored closely and relief and rescue measures were also being undertaken in full earnest.
The State Government has allotted advance funds to the tune of Rs 20 lakh each to all the Deputy Commissioners to carry out flood protection works.
“The torrential rains lashed Punjab and Himachal during past 72 hours that has caused increase in water levels in the rivers, including Sutlej, to reach dangerous levels. Many villages of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Moga, and Ferozepur have been submerged in the waters of Sutlej,” said the official.
Although floods have not caused much damage to human lives, the livestock, homes and properties, and crops have suffered a great deal of damage.
Major breaches were reported at various bandhs causing flooding in several villages in Jalandhar and Ropar areas.
Bhakra Dam’s flood gates were opened in the morning, in the wake of which around 60 villages, surrounding Ludhiana, were evacuated.
A government official said: “Breaches were reported at four places in Bholewal, Meowal and other near Phillaur. Shahkot Dhussi Bundh also breached causing flooding in anian and Janian Chahal villages. Another breach reported at Gidderpindi near Sultanpur Lodhi. Reports are that following a breach, Sutlej water entered Bholewal Kadim and nearby villages of Ludhiana district too.”
Official said that a breach in the bandh in Bholewal village has caused inundation in five villages each in Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts. “The NDRF personnel conducted the rescue operations and rescued people trapped in their houses. Standing crops in thousands of acres have been destroyed,” said the official adding that Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner and local MLA and Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu oversaw the rescue work.
Indian Army and NDRF teams also launched rescue operations in Jalandhar district after major breaches were reported on the Satluj River at four places in Bholewal, Meowal and other villages under Philluar sub-division.
As per the initial reports, more than 24 people were still trapped even as NDRF teams rescued several people from Nawan Khera village.
Jalandhar’s Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma has asked people in at least 13 villages of Phillaur district to be evacuated. Officials said that the situation is under control in Shahkot sub-division of Jalandhar district, where around 63 villages were put on high alert.
Sharma requested residents of Shahkot to move to safer places as around 2.4 lakh cusec of water from the Sutlej is likely to hit the area during the day.
The situation also remained under control in the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) district, where more than 65 villages were put on high alert.
“A breach took place at around 3:30 am at Burji number 14, 20, 31 and 32, Deputy Commissioner Sharma and SSP Navjot Singh Mahal rushed to the spot with companies of NDRF, SDRF and Army. Subsequently, a massive operation was launched to protect the lives of people who were stranded in the flood water.”
In Ferozepur, Deputy Commissioner Chander Gaind also ordered stationing of NDRF and Army at vulnerable points in Zira, Makhu and Hussaniwala areas considering the alarming situation due to release of 2,40,000 cusec of water from Ropar headwork.
Gaind said that to combat any flood-like situation in the district, the deployments have been made besides 12 motorboats and other necessary life-saving equipment in the most sensitive areas.
“We have ordered the evacuation for most sensitive 52 villages on Sunday and a large number of villages have been successfully evacuated by the concerned officials. The evacuees have been taken to the relief centers, which were set up at various locations. The requisite arrangements of food and shelter have been made to all these centers,” he said.
He said that 1.05 lakh cusecs of water has been discharged at Harike head and situation is under control at the moment.