No threat in Ludhiana for now, hardships continue

Tribune News Service

Bholewal Qadim (Ludhiana), August 20

A day after 70-ft-long breach occurred in the Dhussi bundh of the Sutlej at Bholewal Qadim village of Ludhiana, the water level in the swollen river has started receding, giving a sigh of relief to the people of the affected areas. 

Many villagers on Monday accused the administration of inaction, following which it started the repair work of the damaged portion of the bundh on Tuesday. 

At 4 pm on Tuesday, the water flow in the Sutlej was recorded at 54,590 cusecs at Phillaur, while it was recorded at 2.23 lakh cusecs at 3 pm on Monday. The maximum flow was recorded at 2.75 lakh cusecs on Sunday night. Besides, the water level at Ladhowal bridge was recorded at 236.28 m on Tuesday afternoon as compared to 237.37 m on Monday.

The water is, however, still accumulated in many paddy fields in the affected villages. Besides, tubewells in various fields have reportedly developed snags after the floods.

Balwant Ram, a farmer, said, “My fields are inundated and the paddy crop is destroyed. I appeal to the government to provide us relief at the earliest as our family is mainly dependent on agriculture.” 

Allowal village sarpanch Gurcharan Singh said the floods had damaged crops on around 1,800 acres in five villages, including Bholewal, Allowal, Karaike, Majara Kalan and Goindwal of Ludhiana district. He said they had already submitted a list of the areas where the crops got damaged due to the floods. 

On Tuesday, many villagers were seen helping the Drainage Department employees plug the breach. “The water has been entering the fields since Monday morning. Despite repeated requests to the officials concerned, the repair work of the bundh was not started on Monday. The work began on Tuesday after the water level in the river receded,” said Vipan, a villager.

Meanwhile, DC Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said, “The assessment of the damaged crops will be done soon. At present, the work to repair the breach in the Sutlej bundh is underway and the situation is totally under control.”

The DC also visited the Garhi Fazal area to inspect the bundh after the soil erosion. “We have already deployed our staff to keep a vigil on the river. They stay here and take immediate steps to secure the bundh,” he added.

Part of land near bundh eroded

• Panic gripped nearby areas after a portion of the land in front of the Sutlej bundh at Garhi Fazal near Mattewara village washed away on Tuesday morning.
• Drainage Department employees quickly swung into action and secured the river banks.
• Staff and villagers axed some trees and placed those along with sandbags along the river bank to avoid more damage.