Flood situation grim in Punjab district

CHANDIGARH - The flood situation remained grim in Punjab’s Mansa district Wednesday as overflowing water of the Ghaggar river entered five more villages, taking the number of affected villages to 30.

Several acres of agricultural land was inundated in Sardulgarh sub-division of Mansa.

“The flood situation is grim in Sardulgarh area. Nearly 30 villages are flooded and most of the residents have been shifted to safe locations. With the rising water level in Ghaggar, danger of flood is still looming over 39 more villages,” Mansa Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rahul told IANS.

Besides civic officials, army and paramilitary troopers were also helping in the relief operations.

“Around 200 houses and standing crops on nearly 5,000 acres have been damaged in the floods. We have made all arrangements to provide packed food and water to the flood victims. So far there has been no loss of life due to floods in Mansa,” he said.

Punjab Chief Secretary S.C. Aggrawal said, “About Rs.51 crore has already been disbursed among the affected districts and concerned departments. Another Rs.20 crore will be sent to them in next 24 hour. We have earmarked Rs.5 crore for providing free seeds to the flood affected farmers.”

According to official figures, crops on 294,397 acres have been damaged in Patiala, Sangrur, Mohali, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga and Mansa districts. The maximum area of 139,075 acres has been affected in Patiala.

In the neighbouring Haryana, the flood situation was serious in Sirsa district.

“So far nearly 20,000 acres of area in more than three dozen villages of Sirsa have been affected by the floods,” said C.G Rajnikanthan, Sirsa deputy commissioner.

“Massive relief and resuce operations are on in the flood-hit areas. Nodal officers have been appointed for all affected villages and a team of animal husbandry department has been formed to save the livestock.”

Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Sirsa and Fatehabad districts have been badly affected by the floods over the last few days. However, situation in most of the districts is inching towards normalcy.

“Situation in the flood affected areas of the state is under control and relief measures are being taken up,” said Haryana Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati.

“Large scale vaccination of the animals is being carried out. At least 150 teams of veterinary doctors have been deployed to undertake immunisation and other health related preventive and curative measures in the districts,” she said.

As many as 33 people have lost their lives in floods in Punjab and Haryana and damages is expected to be to the tune of hundreds of crores.