Flood fury: Nawanshahr, Balachaur put on alert

NAWANSHAHR: To ensure the safety of residents of 67 villages adjoining Dhussi bundh of the Sutlej in the wake of the release of excess water from Ropar Headworks, Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner Vinay Bublani has asked the SDMs of Nawanshahr and Balachuar to evacuate the residents to safer places.

An NDRF team carries out a rescue operation in a flood-affected area in Nawanshahr. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Nawanshahr, August 18

To ensure the safety of residents of 67 villages adjoining Dhussi bundh of the Sutlej in the wake of the release of excess water from Ropar Headworks, Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner Vinay Bublani has asked the SDMs of Nawanshahr and Balachuar to evacuate the residents to safer places. The Nawanshahr subdivision has 41 low-lying and flood-prone villages, while 26 villages come under Balachaur subdivision.

The DC accompanied by SSP Alka Meena, while reviewing the situation of the Dhussi bundh at Tajowal Mandhala in Nawanshahr and Bela Tajowal in Balachaur, directed the concerned SDMs to expedite the strengthening of these two points that have shown erosion due to continuous heavy rain and flow of excess water.

Local MLAs, Aangad Singh Nawanshahar and Darshan Lal Mangupur, who were taking stock of Dhussi bundh in the wake of swollen river, asked the DC to complete the work of strengthening as early as possible so that flow of excess water could not breach the bundh. The DC assured both the MLAs that apart from the Drainage Department, Revenue, Forest and Panchayat Departments had also been put on job to strengthen the bundh.

Bublani said the district administration has called Army and NDRF teams to save the residents from the fury of floods. “Though till now, there is no overflow or leakage of river water, but we are ready to handle the situation. Army and NDRF teams would be deployed at both Nawanshahr and Balachaur,” he added.

Besides, police patrolling has already been ordered to monitor the Dhussi bundh. The District Education officer has also been asked to open the nearby schools as relief camps while divers, boats, tents, fodder for animals, ration for civilians, medical and veterinary teams have been put on alert.

Flood-prone areas in Nawanshahr subdivision are Pandrawal Nangal Jattan, Burj Tehal Dass, Phambra, Begowal, Kharkuwal, Julah Majra, Tajpur, Khoja, Mirjapur, Talwandi Sibbu, Daryapur, Bairsal, Lalewal, Mahadipur kalan, Mahadipur Khurd, Mandhala, Mehandipur, Saidpur Kalan/Saidpur Khurd, Niamatpur, Shekha Majara, Garhi fateh Khan, Udhowal, Ratnana, Thathiala, Husainpur, Sultanpur, Neelowal, Dilawarpur, Behloor kalan, Nangal Chhanga, Phool Makauri, Chakli Sujait, Sbalpur, Tajowal, Alowal, Dhaingadpur, Malikpur, Jhungian, Behloor Khurd, Chak Illahi Baksh.

In Balachaur subdivision, ADB Rail, ADB Bela Tajowal, Bela Tajowal, Aima, Chahal, Kuhar, Bhedia, Ghudka, Hasanpur Kalan, Hasanpur Khurd, Mander, Dhubhali, ADB Paragpur, Paragpur, Mubarkpur, Srangpur Panj Peda, Hedon, Bhaipur, Thathiala Bet, Dugri, Nanowal, Auliapur, Khoja Bet, Niana and Banga Bet are low-lying and flood-prone villages that are put on alert.

The DC appealed the residents near Dhussi bandh to move to safer places immediately as the excess water released from Ropar Headworks would take minimum six hours to reach Nawanshahr.

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