2 new breaches worsen situation in Jalandhar, Kapurthala

Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Fatehpur/Janian/Janian Chahal, August 21

With two fresh breaches at Mandala Channa village, Lohian, in Jalandhar and Indessar village in Kapurthala, the flood crisis in the districts has been aggravated.

With over 21 villages inundated in Lohian alone, there is no let-up in the severity of water flow. For the second consecutive night, more than 19,000 villagers are expected to spend night in the open. Over 30,000 acres in Jalandhar has been inundated.

Twentyfive boats (20 Jalandhar and 5 Kapurthala) and seven helicopters have been pressed into service for relief operations in the 138 flood-hit villages of the districts. The heavy flow of water and villagers’ reluctance to leave their belongings are posing problems to rescue and relief works.

Some villages have also been using their own boats or those provided by activist Balbir Singh Seechewal to ferry people. Three boats provided by Seechewal plied all day at Janian Chahal village.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said, “About 18,000 villagers are expected to be staying put at their ‘flooded’ homes today too. Ration for two days has been air-dropped today. We expect waters to recede soon and will airdrop ration a day after.”

Kapurthala DC DPS Kharbanda said choppers should be pressed into service tomorrow to air drop over 10,000 packets of ration.

Not much relief
30,000 acres inundated in Jalandhar 
138 villages affected in Jalandhar, Kapurthala
27 boats, 7 helicopters roped in for relief ops