Speaker inspects embankments; relief partial, claim Karnal villagers

The water level of the Yamuna continues to recede after the release of over 3 lakh cusecs from the Hathnikund Barrage on Monday, but for villagers living along its banks in Karnal district, relief is only partial.

Sleepless nights continue as families remain on alert, fearing a sudden surge in water levels.

At Dakhwala Gujran and Lalupura villages in Gharaunda, residents gathered on the embankment to monitor the flow late into the night.

“Even if the water goes down, we cannot sleep. In 2023, our homes and fields were submerged, and we had to move our cattle to higher ground. We fear it may happen again,” said Satpal, a farmer of Dakhwala.

Several villages like Japti Chapra and Lalupura witnessed losses, he said. Paddy and sugarcane crops had already been submerged.

Another farmer, Shispal, said every monsoon brought along the same fear. "We want a permanent solution.”

Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, meanwhile, visited the vulnerable points along the Yamuna and inspected the embankments at Dakhwala Gujran and Lalupura villages and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the district administration.

“Across North India, excess rainfall has created a difficult situation. Rivers are in spate when water is released from dams, and embankments face pressure. Unlike 2023, this time, advance planning, strengthening of embankments, and construction of studs at Gharaunda have helped minimise the damage,” he claimed.

The Speaker also directed officials to remain alert, with machinery and manpower. “Some fields along the river are affected, and crops have been damaged. But overall, the embankments are safe. The administration must remain vigilant, and after the rainy season, prepare long-term flood control plans in consultation with villagers,” he said.

He praised the state government’s decision to provide aid to flood-affected states like Punjab and J&K, calling it an example of collective responsibility in tackling natural disasters.