Canal swimmers find no chill this summer

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 28

Despite heat wave conditions prevailing in the region, residents, who used to spend their day at Sultanwind Canal to seek respite from the hot weather during summers, have failed to take a dip nowadays. The administration has issued directions against swimming in view of the Covid-19 spread.

Last week, the police dealt strictly with those taking bath in the UBDC Canal at Sultanwind area. Now, the residents have been avoiding swimming in the canal.

Tirath Singh, a resident of Gurnam Nagar, Sultanwind Road, said “Every summer, we used to take bath in canal. I have never skipped this since my childhood. Now, I visit here once a day but cannot take bath due to restrictions.”

Gaurav Khanna, resident of the Partap Avenue said, “Cops don’t allow gathering on the bank of canal. I made a programme with my friends to take a bath in the canal on Sunday. When we reached here, the police patrolling team warned us and asked to obey administrative direction. So we canceled the bath.”

Usually, in June and July, the canal used to witness huge rush on its banks from Vallha to Sultanwind road. The residents, used to enjoy swimming in the canal water.