After fresh rain, Zirakpur, Baltana, Dhakoli teeter on edge

Heavy rain this morning left a majority of roads in Zirakpur and Dera Bassi area flooded, bringing the traffic almost to a halt.

The Chandigarh-Ambala national highway in Zirakpur remained inundated with vehicles wading through one-foot deep water on the road.

The situation was worse in the Dhakoli market area, with some of the road users parking their vehicles on roadside as water level rose. In Baltana, Sukhna choe was in full fury, flowing over the bridge throughout the day, snapping access on both sides. The nearby Baltana police post was also submerged in four-feet deep water as police personnel scrambled to secure documents.

Baltana residents have also been on the edge for the past two to three days as Sukhna Lake flood gates are being opened to discharge excess water. Many low-lying areas and houses near the rivulet are facing a threat of severe damage.

Parts of Zirakpur, meanwhile, also witnessed power cuts that extended up to six hours.

Officials told to strengthen Bhankharpur embankment

The district administration today directed the drainage department to immediately strengthen the embankment in Bhankharpur.

The Tiwana embankment on the Ghaggar river has been found intact, but local residents requested strengthening with boulders. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Komal Mittal assured them that the work would be undertaken after the rain.

Mittal today also visited vulnerable points along the Ghaggar river to assess the situation. She met with the Khajur Mandi sarpanch and directed Dera Bassi SDM Amit Gupta to ensure the immediate supply of ration and drinking water to residents as required.

The DC also informed that the water level in the Ghaggar, which had risen earlier, began receding by evening. The situation continues to be closely monitored by the district administration officials.

Nada–Khudda Lahora road near Patiala Ki Rao damaged

Meanwhile, a portion of the Nada–Khudda Lahora road along Patiala Ki Rao suffered huge damage due to soil erosion due to heavy water flow.

The sudden surge in the flow of water from the catchment area due to heavy rainfall posed a serious threat, but immediate intervention ensured the situation was brought under control. Thousands of people live downstream in the low-lying area.

Upon receiving an urgent call from residents of Nayagaon regarding the road damage, Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal directed the Drainage Department and Municipal Council to initiate repair work. The edges of the rivulet were fortified and the patch of rivulet cleaned and desilted.

Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang, MLA Anmol Gagan Mann, and Mittal were present on site to oversee the operations. Local councillors and residents also assisted the administration in initiating repair efforts.

The Drainage Department arranged sandbags and jumbo bags alongwith many tippers of boulders, while the Municipal Council provided C&V material and sand bags to reinforce the damaged stretch. Police officials also assisted by managing traffic and ensuring safety around the site.

Kang assured that the seasonal rivulet’s course would be properly managed in the near future.

Kharar BJP leader Vineet Joshi added, “Politicians came for a while and vanished but the local area residents and social workers are working here from morning to evening.”

Dera Bassi MLA visits affected areas

Dera Bassi MLA S Kuljit Singh Randhawa, meanwhile, visited three villages: Humbar, Hansala and Rajomajra. He said the Revenue Department and the Agriculture Officer will assess the loss of agricultural land in the villages and the government will soon conduct a girdawari and provide necessary assistance to the farmers.

Congress’ Dera Bassi unit chief Deepinder Singh Dhillon and Punjab Youth Congress Vice President Udayvir Singh Dhillon complained that the Aam Aadmi Party government has been unable to take care of residents of villages affected by the floods. He said the situation has worsened in the villages of Bhankharpur, Tiwana, Khajur Mandi, dubbing the claims of proper arrangements made by the government “false propaganda”.

“The leaders have visited these villages but the people have not received anything except empty promises,” he further said, before informing the Dera Bassi Sub-Divisional Magistrate about the situation.

Dhillon said Ghaggar is eroding the village embankment near Bhankharpur. “The administration is saying that everything is under control. The people of the village are filling sandbags near the embankment on their own. The administration should have done this work before the rains,” he further added.