Inflow from Pak still on; Army, NDRF on alert

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, August 25

Over 17 villages, situated between the right bank of overflowing Sutlej and Indo-Pakistan border, continue to remain at risk of getting flooded following a part of the embankment along Tendiwala village got severely damaged due to the strong current of water coming from Kasur (Pakistan). Although a joint team, led by the district administration, comprising NDRF and Army troops besides drainage officials, has been working on war footing since last night to plug the breach, the embankment is getting eroded at a fast pace, posing danger to the lives and property of thousands of nearby residents.

DC Chander Gaind and SSP Vivek Sheel Soni, along with other officials, have been camping here since last night to oversee the situation. At the request of the DC, hundreds of villagers, along with their tractor-trailers, have extended a helping hand to prevent around 50-ft-long portion of the ditch-cum-bundh from collapse. The DC said the discharge from Pakistan side was very high that hindered the repair work. He said there was a risk of water entering the channel alongside the bundh for which a temporary protection layer, comprising sandbags, had been built.

Sandeep Goel, Executive Engineer (Drainage), said, “Preventive measures are being taken, but the scouring of embankment can’t be prevented at this stage unless the water current is reduced.”

Sources said water coming downstream Harike was merging with the strong discharge in a creek near Tendiwala, causing whirlpool.

Meanwhile, the administration on Sunday made announcements in adjoining villages to go to safe places.

Hundreds of residents from adjoining villages gathered at the site due to which the police had to be deployed.

Mehtab Singh of Tendiwala said if the bundh was washed away, several villages would be affected.

Muktiar, a villager helping Army jawans in carrying out the rescue work, said his crop was damaged two years ago as well, but the compensation was still awaited.

Jagjit Kumar, who owns eight acres, said the state should either construct a pontoon bridge or at least provide them a new boat. “Already six villagers have died while crossing the river on a ‘bera’ that got damaged.”Another farmer Kartar Singh demanded that the government should construct a permanent notch in this area to prevent the bundh from being washed away whenever the Sutlej is in spate.

Villagers extend help for bundh repair

• The Sutlej bundh along Tendiwala village damaged due to the strong current of water coming from Pakistan. 
• Personnel of the Army, NDRF and Drainage Department are trying to plug the breach since Saturday night
• Villagers are bringing tractor-trailers loaded with repair material to help officials prevent further damage