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7 Jalandhar villages still cut off as breach remains unplugged

JALANDHAR: Facing the dual onslaught of the Chitti Bein and the Sutlej, seven villages of Lohian are the worst-affected as floodwater is yet to recede.

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Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 2

Facing the dual onslaught of the Chitti Bein and the Sutlej, seven villages of Lohian are the worst-affected as floodwater is yet to recede. Though Janian Chahal breach was plugged today and water also largely receded in Gidderpindi, a gaping breach at Mandala Channa is preventing water from receding here and has cut off these seven villages from the mainland.

Submerged under 4-5-ft water, farmers say this area has suffered the most. They say there is a huge loss to houses and crops.

There are just two boats arranged by villagers themselves to connect villages such as Mandala Channa, Gatta Mundi Kasu, Pindiwal, Mundi Chohlian, Mundi Shehrian, Chak Wadala, Bhanewal and Dhakka Basti with the mainland. With water standing for over 13 days, the damage to houses and crops is considerable.

With three breaches ripping apart 50-60 houses at Dhakka Basti alone, a strip of land carrying 3 to 4 houses can be seen floating near Mandala Channa river like an island.

Gurdeep Singh, a farmer from Mandala Channa, says, “We are cut off from the rest of the city. Two boats are the only means of accessing the submerged area. It will take months for normalcy to return. Gidderpindi and Janain Chahal breaches have been plugged but Mandala Channa breach continues letting in water. Thousands are camping near the bundh. Almost 20 houses in Mandala Channa have developed cracks. Stinking water surrounds the area and even after a fortnight, there is no sign of it drying up.”

Mela Ram and his cousin Binder Singh, whose house at Dhakka Basti has developed cracks, say, “Most of the houses have been severely damaged. Due to Basti being cut off, we are staying put at the bundh. We think it will take months before our houses become livable.”

The damage assessment in the area is also a challenging task until water recedes.

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