Record rainfall drowns Bathinda

Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, July 16

The city today got flooded after it received record 178 mm rain, which poured continuously for six hours.

Residents were at the receiving end with the town’s drainage system choked following the heavy spell of rain. Most of the roads in the town were flooded with rainwater, which entered many localities and damaged household items. A number of educational institutions declared holiday today.

The situation was such that even the official residences of IGP Bathinda Range MF Farooqui, District and Session Judge Kamaljit Singh Lamba, Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Nanak Singh were submerged as these are located in the low-lying area of Civil Lines.

This despite the fact that the area is represented by members of the influential Badal clan in both Parliament as well as the state Assembly. Both Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Bathinda (Urban) MLA Manpreet Badal have made tall claims of development in the city.

Meanwhile, the roof of a cow shelter collapsed due to heavy rainfall in Bhagta area in the district. Of nealy 80 cows inside the shelter, 37 died in the incident. Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar reached the spot and annouced Rs 5 lakh compensation, while SAD leader Sikander Singh Maluka reportedly gave Rs 25 lakh from his pocket.