2K workers engaged in dhussi bundh strengthening work at Sasrali village

Nearly 1,500-2,000 workers, including Army personnel, NGOs, villagers and MNREGA labourers, have been working round the clock at Sasrali village to strengthen the dhussi bundh, which had breached at several points following incessant rains in the region over the past few days.

Though the condition at Sasrali Colony remains critical as the Sutlej continues to flow dangerously close to the bundh, villagers remain determined and hopeful that the structure will hold.

Sarpanch Surinder Singh Namdhari of Sasrali Colony village said that the work had not stopped even for a few minutes during the past 72 hours. “Villagers from nearby areas are reaching with sandbags, iron nets and food for the workers who are relentlessly engaged in the task. We are confident of overcoming this threat,” he added.

The immediate danger comes from the river cutting through sand banks and inching towards the bundh. Heavy material is being used to divert the flow and prevent a breach.

Simultaneously, an akhand path has been organised on the river bank, only a few yards from where the strengthening work was underway. Nek Singh, while serving langar parshad near the trolley where the akhand path was held, said that panic had gripped villagers but “Babaji’s” blessings will save us and the villages. “I have faith in God, and He answers the prayers”, said Nek.

Boothgarh village sarpanch Sonu said announcements had been made asking villagers to shift livestock to safer places, but most families were reluctant to leave. “People here suffer greatly during natural calamities, yet they refuse to abandon their villages,” he said. Some farmers, however, held the Central government responsible, alleging that timely and controlled release of dam waters could have prevented the crisis.

Meanwhile, rumours of a breach drew large crowds of onlookers to the site, forcing the authorities to install barricades to regulate movement. At the same time, the villagers distributing food, water and fruits made sure that none went without having langar.

Himanshu Jain DC, accompanied by the ADC and SDM, has been camping at Sasrali for the past three days to oversee operations and ensure uninterrupted rescue and reinforcement work.

Officials said nearly 800-1,000 m of the bandh remained highly vulnerable, where massive efforts were on to plug weak spots.