Heavy rain floods fields in Sirsa

Heavy rainfall since Saturday night has caused flooding in both urban areas and farmlands around Sirsa. Water has entered fields, damaging crops and low-lying areas are submerged.

Though the water level in the Ghaggar River near Sirsa has slightly dropped, the danger is far from over. The river is still flowing very close to its edges, raising fears of embankments breaking, as it happened in 1995, 1998, 2005, and 2023.

To prevent such disasters, the district administration and villagers are guarding the embankments around the clock, using mud-filled plastic bags to strengthen the riverbanks. Women and children are also involved, women are helping with security and food services, while children have been alerted to stay away from the river.

Embankments are being reinforced with earthmoving machines, tractors and trailers. Reports say that 22,100 cusecs of water is flowing near Sardulgarh and 26,000 cusecs near the Ottu Weir downstream.

Many embankments are being repaired using the MNREGA scheme, and villagers are taking proactive steps in preparing for emergencies. Lights have been installed for night-time monitoring.

A major concern is that some villages still lack a proper bridge over the Ghaggar river. One bridge is under construction, but rising water has halted the work. Earlier, people used to cross the river with boats, but now the strong current has made even boats unsafe. Locals now have to take longer routes to travel.

Conditions are especially bad in about 10 villages, including Budhabhana and Nejadela. People are reminded of past floods and are anxious about what could come next.

Former Power Minister Ranjit Singh visited the area on Friday evening and spoke to officials. He requested the officials to provide proper electricity and emergency support to affected villages. He also stated that over 600 acres of crops were already damaged and urged the government to take action.

The villagers warned that the embankments were weak and could collapse easily. Even a small rat hole could cause a leak that might lead to a major breach within minutes. They were asking the administration to dig and clean the riverbed and rebuild the embankments properly to prevent future problems.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Virendra Sahrawat said the situation was under control but being watched carefully. Teams from the Irrigation Department were patrolling day and night, and efforts were on to reinforce the embankments further. Drainage systems were also being monitored.

He urged the villagers to report any signs of leakage or risk to their patwari, village secretary, irrigation officials, or directly call the flood control room at 01666-248882 or the Deputy Commissioner’s camp office at 01666-248880. He also warned against believing rumours and advised people to stay calm and cooperate with the administration.