Army deployed in Sultanpur Lodhi as water level rises in Beas river

Panchal said the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team today evacuated 100 persons from flood-affected villages.

Panchal said 60 persons were shifted by followers of Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal to safer places. He said situation was under control and there was nothing to worry about safety of affected persons still living in marooned villages.

Seeing the gravity of situation Panchal requisitioned the Army to help the district administration in the evacuation process. Water level in swollen Beas river further rose to 2.30 lakh cusec this morning endangering lives of 2,000 persons living in marooned villages in the mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi. Seechewal followers and the administration pressed eight motor boats into service for evacuating people from flood-affected villages.

SDRF teams were also deployed to save the lives of affected families who were earlier reluctant to leave their houses as they feared that burglars would strike at their residences in their absence.

Seechewal said now affected farmers were asking to rescue them on seeing water level rise from 8-10 feet in the Beas river. He said there was shortage of motor boats. Eight boats were insufficient to evacuate such a large number of people, he said.

A breach in temporary bundh raised by farmers inside dhussi bundh further widened to 700 feet, said officials. Meanwhile, city residents today heaved a sigh of relief as rain stopped today and sun brought some respite for them.