Yamuna water starts receding, but villagers still on edge

The Yamuna has begun to recede, but fear and anxiety persist among villagers living along its banks. Vast stretches of farmland remain under water, roads are blocked and farmers are counting heavy losses after Monday’s massive release from the Hathnikund barrage.

Around 3.2 lakh cusecs of water was discharged from the barrage in Yamunanagar on Monday morning, reaching Karnal by afternoon. By late night, the overflow had entered low-lying fields, seeped into residential areas and snapped crucial road links.

Villages including Shergarh Tapu, Dabkoli, Garhpur Tapu, Musepur, Kalsora, Nabiabad, Japti Chapra, and Nagli Chapra were among the worst affected. By Tuesday, nearly 2 lakh cusecs of water was still flowing through the Yamuna — officially categorised as a “medium flood.”

“Water has started receding in the river, but our teams remain on alert. If no fresh release is made from Hathnikund, the situation on the fields and roads will improve soon,” said Manoj Kumar, XEN, Irrigation Department.

Officials also warned of erosion as the water withdraws. “We have put machinery in place to strengthen the edges of the Yamuna,” the XEN added.

For farmers, however, the damage is irreversible. Standing crops of sugarcane, paddy and vegetables have been destroyed. “Our crop has submerged, causing loss to us,” said Rajinder, a local farmer.

Another villager, Yashpal, recalled last year’s devastation. “In 2023, we lost everything when floods wreaked havoc in our fields and residential areas. It took months to recover. Now, we fear the same suffering again,” he said.

The floods have also crippled connectivity. The small bridge linking Dabkoli Kalan and Dabkoli Khurd lies under three feet of water, while the Haryana-UP road via Shergarh Tapu has been shut. Police have barricaded the stretch, forcing commuters to take a 40–50 km detour. “This road is our lifeline. Now, even getting milk or fodder from the neighbouring villages is a struggle,” said a resident of Shergarh Tapu.

Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh reviewed the situation on Monday, instructing officers to remain at their posts and step up monitoring. The Irrigation Department has deployed JEs, SDOs, and XENs under the supervision of the Superintending Engineer, with staff on duty round the clock.

Despite these precautions, villagers remain restless. “Every year, we live with this fear. The Yamuna floods bring nothing but destruction. We need permanent solutions, not just emergency warnings,” said Sudhir, a farmer.