Water level recedes, Patti residents remain vigilant

r Correspondent

Tarn Taran, August 24

Even as the level of water in Satluj River is receding gradually, residents of Patti subdivision are continuously keeping a watch on the river banks to prevent any flooding of their villages from a river breach. Residents of many villages along the river bank are organising ‘teekri pehra’ every night for this.

District administration officials stated that the quantity of additional water being released into the river has decreased during the past few days. Additional Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said on August 20, a total of 1.69 lakh cusec water was released from Dhilwan barrage. He said on the same day, 1.58 lakh cusecs were discharged towards Muthianwala side from from Harike barrage which flew down towards Pakistan side.

On August 22, the water released from Dhilwan was decreased to merely 77,767 cusecs and discharge towards Pakistan side from Harike was at 75,234 cusecs.

With more water released from Dhilwan on Friday, it has gone upto 1,01,395 cusecs and out of it, 91,830 cusecs were released toward Pakistan today.

Fear still prevails among residents as over 10,000 acres of land in Booh, Kuttiwala, Ram Singhwala, Toot, Sabhra, Bhura Chak, Dumniwala, Sito Meh Jhugian, Kot Budha, Bhauwal and Banglrai villages still remains submerged under water.

Inderjit Singh Kot Budha, state president of Kisan Sangarsh Committee, Punjab, said many social organisations were helping residents of the affected villages by providing animal fodder. The kisan leader alleged that the administration was yet to reach to the affected people and they were managing the situation on their own.

Patti SDM Navraj Singh said: “We have rescued as many as 35 people from the affected area. Besides, we have provided 260 kg of dry animal fodder.” The SDM said three relief camps at Muttianwala, Kot Budha and Sabrawan had been set up. He, however, admitted that not a single flood-hit villagers was staying at these camps.