Panic grips residents as Tangri swells in Ambala

Ambala, September 2

Panic gripped the residents of the colonies situated along the Tangri river, after the seasonal river swelled and water entered residential areas this evening.

Tangri is a seasonal river and it usually swells up after heavy rain in the Shivalik region. Due to illegal constructions, the riverbed has shrunk and resdients of the colonies situated along its bed live in constant fear of floods. Today their fears saw light of day after they found water had entered their colonies’ streets and a few houses and they were forced to shift their belongings to safer places.

An alert was sounded and residents were advised to shift to safer places. However, the situation is improving gradually and the river is flowing below the danger mark. We are keeping a constant watch on the situation.

Satinder Siwach, Ambala Cantonment SDM

Residents said they had suffered heavy losses during last year’s floods, and now again water had entered residential areas. They said it was for the first time this season that it had happened. They said they had placed sand bags to stop the water from entering their houses. However, the Irrigation Department officials said there was no need to panic as there was no further alert and the water was expected to start receding by the evening.

Mustaqeem, a resident of New Lucky Nagar, said “The water has entered the streets and we were not given any information about the river swelling up today. We have no other option but to observe the water level ourselves. If it increases, we will shift our belongings to other places.”

Nathu Ram, another resident, said “Last year the people living in the colonies along the bed of Tangri suffered heavy losses and were not even provided with any compensation. At present there is water in the streets but if the water level increases any further, it will start entering the houses and cause damage.”

Junior Engineer of the Irrigation Department, Harpreet Singh said, “About 15,400 cusec water was flowing in the river in the evening. Water has entered some colonies situated along the river bed but there is no further alert and the water will start receding within a few hours. There is no need to panic. The situation is under control.”

Ambala Cantonment SDM Satinder Siwach said, “An alert was sounded and residents were advised to shift to safer places. However, the situation is improving gradually and the river is flowing below the danger mark. We are keeping a constant watch on the situation and currently there is no fresh warning of further increase in water level.”