Swelling of Tangri stirs a tide of old flood fears in Ambala colonies

The swelling of Tangri river due to heavy rains has, again, become a matter of concern for the residents of the colonies situated on its riverbed. Though water has been discharging smoothly (even after crossing the danger mark this season), residents say they live in constant fear of flooding — their fears worsened after having suffered heavy losses in the 2023 disaster.

Tangri is a seasonal river and swells when there is heavy rainfall in the Shivalik region. The monsoon brings unpredictable conditions for the residents. Two years ago, the overflowing river had caused large-scale damage.

Pappu Shah, a shopkeeper from New Ajit Nagar, said, “The level of water in the river has been fluctuating continuously, and, since our street is in a low-lying area, water has entered the street multiple times. Luckily, it has not entered houses, or caused any damage so far. I have been living here for the past decade, and am used to such situations. However, after we experienced the disaster two years ago, we are anxious. With no other option, we just shift our belongings to the roofs to minimise losses.”

Dalip Kumar, an area resident, echoed similar sentiments, “Residents of the colonies here live in a constant fear of floods during the rains. The government deepened the riverbed this year, which has temporarily helped in ensuring the smooth flow of water, but we request it to find a permanent solution.”

Following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Tangri, Ghaggar and the Markanda, the district administration has ordered a ‘Thikri Pehra’ to monitor the flow of water in vulnerable areas.

Ambala Deputy Commissioner Ajay Singh Tomer said a significant rise in the water levels had been observed, and, due to this, a flood-like situation could arise in areas adjoining these rivers.

The officials concerned — including the Ambala Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Zila Parishad CEO, and SDMs — have been instructed to ensure monitoring of the situation within their respective jurisdictions. They have been told to ensure ‘Thikri Pehra’, and report immediately to the flood control room and higher authorities in case of an emergency.

An official of the Irrigation Department said 15,400 cusecs was the danger-level of the Tangri, and various colonies — including New Tagore Garden, New Ekta Vihar, Prabhu Prem Puram, Rampur, Sarsehri, Chandpura and Kardhan — had witnessed heavy waterlogging in recent years. This season, over 20,900 cusecs had been recorded already, and no waterlogging or damages were recorded, the official added.

Irrigation Department Superintending Engineer Manish Kumar said, to prevent damage, the riverbed had been deepened and widened in the Chandpura, Kardhan and Shahpur areas, while ‘bundhs’ had been created to protect the Chandpura and Sarsehri areas. This had helped in increasing the water-carrying capacity of the river, Kumar said, adding that water in the Ghaggar and the Markanda was also discharging smoothly.