Fields drown under rainwater in Karnal villages

Box: Family rescued

District Revenue Officer Shyam Lal said upon receiving information that a family of three, along with their pets and livestock, was stranded in a dera near Kunjpura, we sent a team with boats to rescue them.

Quote: I had transplanted paddy in 46 acres of land with the hope of good production this year but all my hard work has gone vain — Deepak Waraich, farmer from Darar village

Quote: The Revenue Department has submitted a report that around 3,500 acres of fields have been submerged under rainwater in 31 villages. We will process the case to the government accordingly for compensation to be given to affected farmers – DC Nishant Kumar Yadav

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 15

Continuous heavy rains lashing the district since Tuesday morning, coupled with “poor drainage system”, have triggered a flood-like situation in many parts of the district.

It has submerged hundreds of acres of crops of paddy, vegetables and fodder in over 31 villages, including Darar, Ramba, Salaru, Kurali, Uchani, Abdulapur, Taprana, Sultanpur, Rasulpur Khurd, Rasuulpur Kalan, Barota, Borsham and other villages.

The district administration estimated that around 3,500 acres of land had been submerged under rainwater.

Teams of the Revenue Department are in fields to determine losses. Meanwhile, teams of the PWD, Irrigation and Public Health and other departments are working to drain water from fields.

Meanwhile, a large number of farmers of Ramba, Darar, Salaru, Uchani villages reached Mini Secretariat on Thursday, demanding the administration to drain off excess water from their fields at the earliest. They also demanded the authorities to open the drain lying non-functional near Karan Lake so that proper drainage of water could be ensured.

Farmers have demanded compensation for their loss. They have alleged that authorities did not clean drains and nullahs on time, owing to which their fields were waterlogged.

Deepak Waraich, a farmer from Darar village, said: “I had transplanted paddy in 46 acres of land with the hope of good production this year but all my hard work has gone vain.”

Yashbir Singh, a farmer from Uchani village, said the downpour not only flooded his paddy crop but also the residential accommodation of field labour and sheds of livestock.

“Rains destroyed our paddy crop and we have to transplant it again,” said Charanjeet Singh, farmer from Salaru village.

The district has witnessed 295 mm of rainfall between Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon, which is higher than the average of July, i.e., 250 mm.

In the meanwhile, scores of farmers blocked the road near Barota village in protest against poor drainage system in the villages.

To help farmers in this time of distress, the district administration has issued a helpline number.

“We have issued helpline number 1950 for the general public for getting any kind of assistance in this situation. Drains are being cleaned and pipes are being laid by the PWD, Irrigation and Public Health Departments,” Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said.

“The Revenue Department has submitted a report that around 3,500 acres of fields have been submerged under rainwater in 31 villages. We will process the case to the government accordingly for compensation to be given to affected farmers,” he added.