As rising Ravi waters breach bundhs, residents of Amritsar's Ghonewal village fear losing their dwellings

Tension has gripped the residents of this village with water level rising again following the release of thousands of cusecs of water from the dams on Ravi river after incessant rains in the catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir.

The dhussi bundhs (earthen embankments) have been breached at several places in Ghonewal and Machhiwal villages alone.

The residents who have their homes near the point of breach from where Ravi river water is flowing into the villages, expressed their fear that they might lose their dwellings soon.

Baljit Singh of Ghonewal village said that river water was passing near their houses and eroding the foundations leading to caving in of floors. “There are five to six houses which have been under risk,” he pointed out.

Vijay Singh, another resident, said that in the past two days, the residents heaved a sigh of relief as the water had receded. But since last evening, the water level has increased again, so has the fear among the inhabitants of losing all that they have,” he said.

“It took an age to construct a house and one’s life’s earnings, but it took just a day to lose everything because of floods,” he pointed out.

He said that the district administration was yet to reach them while the volunteers of various NGOs and organisations have approached them for providing food and other necessary items.

Manjinder Singh, another resident, said the situation has turned grim and it was unlikely to return to normal soon. “Our houses have been badly damaged by the flood water,” Baljit Singh said.