Ghaggar touches danger mark, flood threat looms over Patiala

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 15

After moderate to heavy rainfall in Punjab and Chandigarh region over the past three days, the water level of the Ghaggar has touched the danger mark of 16 feet in Patiala.

The rise in the water level in the Ghaggar has already put the administration and villagers — living in the catchment area — on tenterhooks.

Also read: Ghaggar crosses danger mark in Patiala; flood-like situation in Bathinda

According to the flood control room, the water level near Sarhala-head of the Ghaggar, crossing through Patiala district, was measured at 16 feet around 8 pm. However, at some places, the water level was recorded at 12 feet.

The Ghaggar, infamous for its flood fury passes through Samana, Devigarh, Sanaur and Ghanaur towns of Patiala district. The said areas of Patiala district had been the worst hit — witnessing loss of property and life due to floods in 1988, 1993 and 2010.

Jaswinder Singh, a farmer in Sarhala village, said, “The water from the Ghaggar has entered into my fields and destroyed the paddy. There is no arrangement by the administration to stop the flow of water into the fields.”

Davinder Singh, Superintendent Engineer, Drainage, said the situation was under control as they had not received any report of overflowing. He said water was flowing smoothly through the Sarhala gauge.

“The water level at Sirkapra, Hadana and Devigarh is below danger mark. The rise in the water level was due to heavy rainfall in the Chandigarh-Mohali belt and low-lying plain areas of Himachal Pradesh in the last 48 hours. However, the velocity and the flow of the river were under control,” Davinder added.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Showkat Ahmad Parry said the situation was under control but as a precautionary measure, the administration had already made all arrangements to deal with any kind of emergency situation in coming days. “All Sub-Divisional Officers of the drainage wing of the Water Resources Department and Block Development and Panchayat Officers are on alert at their respective stations for the past 24 hours. Moreover, all Sub-Divisional Magistrates are continuously monitoring the situation,” the ADC added.