Rain leaves trail of destruction in Muktsar

Archit Watts

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Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 2

High-intensity winds followed by heavy rain caused massive destruction in Gidderbaha subdivision of the district on Thursday night.

A large number of trees, electricity poles and transformers were uprooted, which led to the blocking of the Muktsar-Gidderbaha road via Madhir village. Besides, the power supply to tubewells in a number of villages was snapped too.

Similar situation prevailed on the Muktsar-Bathinda and Malout-Gidderbaha-Bathinda roads. But these roads were thrown open to traffic on Thursday night only. However, the Muktsar-Gidderbaha road via Madhir village was shut for traffic even on Friday. Efforts were afoot to clear the road but due to felling of a large number of trees the work was taking long.

Meanwhile, some residents claimed that no official came to remove the trees from the Muktsar-Gidderbaha road till 9 am on Friday. “We had to remove the trees from the road. Some people even took the branches of the trees with them,” they added.

When contacted, Harish Kumar, Executive Engineer, PSPCL, Gidderbaha, said, “In all, 65 electricity poles and 15 transformers were uprooted due to Thursday night’s storm. We are trying to restore the power supply to tubewells, but it will take about two days. Due to monsoon, there is lesser demand for power supply to tubewells as the crops will not be affected.”

Baljeet Singh, District Forest Officer, Muktsar, said, “Some trees got uprooted and our teams are clearing the roads. The Muktsar-Bathinda and Malout-Bathinda roads were reopened for traffic on Thursday night, but the Muktsar-Gidderbaha road via Madhir village is still being cleared as a large number of trees fell on that route.”

On Friday, rain again lashed Muktsar town, flooding some roads, markets and the bus stand. It also hampered the dewatering work in some villages.

Baljinder Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “Maximum 47.6 mm rainfall is recorded in Muktsar block, 27.2 mm in Gidderbaha, 25 mm in Malout and 8 mm in Lambi.”

Markets Flooded

• On Friday, rain again lashed Muktsar town, flooding roads, markets and the bus stand. 
• It also hampered the draining work in some villages.

In all, 65 electricity poles and 15 transformers were uprooted due to the storm. We are trying to restore the power supply to tubewells, but it will take about two days. —Harish Kumar, Executive engineer, PSPCL, Gidderbaha

The Muktsar-Bathinda and Malout-Bathinda roads were reopened on Thursday night. However, the Muktsar-Gidderbaha road via Madhir village is still being cleared as a large number of trees fell on that route. —Baljeet Singh, District forest officer, Muktsar