Fields inundated, floodwater enters habitation in Hisar villages

Several villages are facing a flood-like situation, with nearly 67% rainfall above average recorded in the district this monsoon and four breaches in the Bhakra drain and channels.

Nearly 75% of crops in district have suffered damage ranging from 25 to 100%

A woman, identified as Rahisa, died after a house collapsed at Koth Kalan village in the district following heavy rain.

According to information, of the total 7,64,950 acres under kharif crops, 5,76,943 acres have been damaged owing to submersion. Nearly 75% of the district’s crops have suffered damage ranging from 25 to 100%, while 36,168 acres have been ruined due to waterlogging.

As per reports from villages, water has also entered residential areas. At Sarsod village, floodwater entered the village, even as residents dug up the divider on the Hisar-Chandigarh National Highway-52 to divert the flow.

A stretch of nearly 400 metres of the highway near Sarsod is submerged, while the Hansi-Barwala National Highway-148B remained closed for the second day due to waterlogging on a 1-km stretch. In Hisar town, part of a 100-year-old building collapsed, though no loss of life was reported. Sources said water situation was critical in about 30 villages.

Deputy Commissioner Anish Yadav reviewed arrangements and directed the health department to organise camps and ensure clean drinking water, while the Public Health Engineering was asked to test the water quality. “Unsafe houses are to be inspected and residents shifted to safer places,” he said, adding that he was monitoring the functioning of major drains and pump houses, stressing strengthening of embankments and timely drainage with motors, pumps, engines for efficient flood control measures.

Officials from various department visited Dhiranwas, Rawalwas Kalan, Gorchi, Gawar, Sarsana, Balsamand, Chuli Kalan and Chuli Khurd, while SDM Jyoti Mittal met social and religious representatives to encourage them to cooperate.

Public Health Engineering Department Minister Ranbir Singh Gangwa visited Bhagana and directed officials to assess damage to houses and property. He said so far, 10,266 farmers from 81 villages had reported damage to 65,235 acres of crops on the compensation portal.