Canal breach wreaks havoc in Karnal villages

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, September 3

More than 20 hours after the breach in the Western Yamuna Canal, water is still stagnant on hundreds of acres of standing crops and residential areas.

Around 465 acres in Hinori, Shekhpura, Tapriyo, Chapriyo, Nandi, Dhanokheri and Badarpur Khalsa villages is still submerged. Water is stagnant in residential areas of Hinori and Shekhpura villages.

Most people had to spend the night on the roof of their houses. Several families suffered huge losses. Houses of three persons collapsed and residents demanded compensation.

Man Singh, Charan Singh and other residents of Hinori village said they had suffered loss due to the breach and the government should compensate them. Sheeshram said his house has collapsed after water gushed into his house.

There was 12,500 cusecs of water in the canal on Sunday. Around 8 pm, water breached the banks. Water gushed into agricultural and residential areas, giving residents no time. For some time, Hinori village was cut off from the main road.

Aditya Dahiya, DC, Surinder Singh Bhoria, SP, and officials of various departments reached the spot. Minister of State for Food and Supplies Karan Dev Kamboj and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Kumar Kashyap took stock of the situation. They assured assistance to affected families.

Dahiya said they were making efforts to fill the breach with JCB machines and other equipment pressed into service.The water level in agricultural land and residential areas had receded and no loss of life reported.