Karnal villages cut off, crops submerged

Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, August 19

With the level of the Yamuna rising to around 6.5 lakh cusecs at 9 am on Monday, water entered villages and fields in more than 20 villages located near the river.

The situation was worrisome for farmers and other residents in Kamalpur Gadrian, Japti Chapra, Nagli, Sayeed Chapra, Nabiabad, Randoli and Dera Halwana villages.

These villages were cut off from Randoli village, which connected these to the main road leading to the district headquarters. In some villages, the water level was around five ft, forcing residents to stay on the roofs of their houses.

The bridge connecting Randoli to other villages was submerged. 

“We have deployed NDRF teams with boats at all sensitive places so that people can get help easily. We have sent doctors to villages which have been separated from Randoli village and other major roads,” said Sumit Sihag, Indri SDM.

Hundreds of acres of paddy, sugarcane, maize and vegetable fields were waterlogged. “I have cultivated paddy on 10 acres, but my land has been submerged. The government should order special ‘girdawari’ for farmers who have suffered losses,” said Gurinder Singh, a farmer.

The water level started receding in the evening. “We hope that if the situation remains the same and no water is released from the Hathni Kund barrage, the water will recede by Tuesday morning,” said Ravinder Kumar, SDO, Irrigation and Water Resources Department.

The authorities sounded an alert for residents. “We have asked people not to go towards the Yamuna,” said DC Vinay Pratap Singh.