flood in punjab

Flood continues to wreak havoc in many districts of Punjab. In many areas of Harike Pattan, Fazilka and Ferozepur, where many villages have come under the grip of water, Crops have also been ruined. The condition of flood is such that people have to leave their homes and go to safer places. Due to the water released downstream from the Harike head works, the confluence of Beas and Sutlej rivers, the Dhussi dam at Ghadumm village in Harike Hathar area was breached, due to which dozens of villages and thousands of acres of crops in the Hathar area came under the brunt of the flood. The Dhusi dam in which the breach occurred has become about 2 acres wide due to the rapid flow of water. The rapid flow of water continuously flowing through this crack is ruining the Harike region. Hundreds of houses are under water in villages like Ghadumm, Kutiwala, Vasti Lal Singh, Gatti Harike etc. in Harike Hathad area.

The border districts of Punjab are most affected by the floods. As per the information received, BSF posts along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab have also come under the grip of flood. Two posts of BSF have been completely submerged in Ferozepur-Fazilka area on the border, while four posts are surrounded by water from all sides. Meanwhile, less water is being released from the dams. In view of the possibility of heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, the Punjab government has been alerted. The Meteorological Department office has issued an orange alert warning of heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh from August 22 to 24, despite the weakening of the monsoon. Several villages in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Rupnagar, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts have been affected by floods after excess water was released from Pong and Bhakra dams. As BSF posts along the border have been submerged in five to six feet of water, vigil has been stepped up with the help of motorboats to prevent potential adversaries from taking advantage of the situation, an official said. Despite all the challenges and adverse conditions, the jawans are standing firm round the clock. Meanwhile, on the Indo-Pak border in Fazilka area, BSF personnel, local administration and people together built a security dam about 2200 meters long, protecting about 1200 hectares of crops. Around 119 villages of Gurdaspur, while around 3 dozen villages of Tarn Taran are affected. In the Khemkaran area, there is a dam about 6 km long to stop the water of the river from the Pakistan side, whose farmers are in danger of breaking. Officials said personnel of National Disaster Response Force, Army and BSF are engaged in relief operations in the border districts.

The rainfall in Himachal Pradesh in the month of August has broken all previous records. Due to the intense and incessant rains, nature’s fury has been seen in almost the entire Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu-Manali, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Due to incessant rains, it is compulsion to release water from the dams. Due to the release of water from the dams, the floods have disrupted the daily life of the villages and towns along the rivers in Punjab. The Meteorological Department is still warning of heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh. This simply means that the crisis continues in Himachal Pradesh as well as in Punjab.

In order to save people from rains and floods, the governments of both the states should take immediate and concrete steps to protect the life and property of the people while being alert. Himachal Pradesh has received Rs 622 crore from the central government to deal with the disaster. Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed due to floods in Punjab. The farmers are demanding compensation. The Punjab government should speedily and seriously do the work of providing relief to all those people including the farmers who have been affected by the floods. The Punjab government should also seek help from the central government by preparing a plan for the people of the flood-affected areas. In view of the warnings of the Meteorological Department, there is a need to take the works to avoid flood on a priority level.

– Irwin Khanna (Chief Editor, Dainik Uttam Hindu)