Panic grips residents after Tangri swells in Ambala Cantonment
The residents were seen observing the water level in the streets and shifting their belongings on the roofs and other safe places
Panic gripped the residents living in the colonies situated on the Tangri river bed after seeing the water level rising and entering the low-lying areas in Ambala Cantonment on Friday.
Tangri is a seasonal river and it swells when there is heavy rainfall in the Shivalik region. The residents were seen observing the water level in the streets and shifting their belongings on the roofs and other safe places.
The women and elders were sitting on the road of the Tangri river bundh, protecting their belongings, while the youngsters were shifting the furniture to safer places.
The district administration alerted the residents and asked them to shift to safer places as the river was expected to receive around 26,000 to 28,000 cusecs water.
Kamlesh Devi, a resident of New Lucky Nagar, said “It is unfortunate to see our household stuff getting ruined by the mud and sludge every year. Even last year, the river water had left a trail of large-scale damage. The majority of the people living here are poor, and they have no other place to go.”
The residents said that the government had made tall claims regarding dredging of the river and strengthening the bundhs, but the things at the ground level have not changed.
Amit Kumar, another resident, said, “For the last few years, during the rainy season we are forced to shift our belongings to a safer place and spend the time on roads, waiting for the water to recede. The water has entered the low-lying areas. The government should construct a bundh to protect the residents.”
Similarly, Mohammed Husain, who works as a carpenter, could be seen protecting his household items near the road.
“Our colony is situated on the riverbed. We have started shifting our belongings on the road, otherwise, all the items will be ruined by the mud and sludge. We have already suffered losses over the years,” he said.
Irrigation department officials said that the water entered the streets of some low-lying areas, but it has started receding and the situation was under control. Around 17,000 cusecs was flowing in the evening and the water is flowing smoothly.
Meanwhile, several localities in Ambala city witnessed waterlogging due the rain in the morning. The residents said that the municipal corporation claims it will manage the situation but the city witnesses waterlogging every year.
Similarly, in view of rising water levels in rivers passing through the Naraingarh subdivision, SDM Shivjeet Bharti has directed all concerned departments to remain on high alert.
The SDM said that rivers such as the Begna, Markanda and Roon, along with other channels, receive a heavy flow of water during rainy season.
The local residents have been asked to avoid venturing near rivers, drains and waterlogged areas during the rains and to keep children away from these locations as well.
SDM Shivjeet Bharti directed the PWD to continuously monitor roads and bridges so that immediate action can be taken in the event of soil erosion, damage to bridges or other potential hazards.
