Car swept away in Ghaggar flash flood

Tribune News Service

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Panchkula, July 6

A car of two agriculture experts, who were on a visit to Kolyon-Bheni village to give information about crops to villagers in the Morni block under the NABARD scheme, was swept away during flash floods this afternoon.

According to information the agriculture experts had parked their car on the banks of the Ghaggar river before crossing over to Koyon-Bheni village to provide information about organic farming to villagers.

A farmer of Badisher village informed villagers that the Ghaggar river was in spate due to heavy rains reported in Himachal Pradesh.

After receiving information farmers and the agriculture experts ran towards Ghaggar and saw the car being swept away in the river waters.

Some farmers showing courage managed to save the car from being swept away further by tying it with ropes further tied with trees along the banks.

A laptop, medicines and documents of the experts kept in the car were spoiled in the river waters. Later, the car was brought out by farmers after the water in the river receded.

Residents of villages across Ghaggar said the administration had provided temporary hanging bridge to cross the river, but failed to provide a permanent connectivity with the other side.

Rattan Singh, Mohan Singh, Inder Singh, Hoshiar, Sumeet, Charan Singh, Babu Ram, Dayal Singh and Tek Singh, all villagers, said, “Residents of many villages across Ghaggar park their vehicles on the river banks. The fear our vehicles’ being swept away during flash floods in the river caused by heavy rains always looms large.”

“Besides, we have to carry crops on our shoulders to reach the road across the bridge,” they added. The villagers demanded that a concrete bridge should be constructed so that they could take their vehicles up to their homes.