Swelling Sutlej worries villagers

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 24

Villagers of the Bet area are a worried lot as the Sutlej has been swelling due to the incessant rain in the past three days. The villagers are repeatedly visiting the river banks to see the status of the water level. They want the district administration to take required measures to strengthen the banks.

A group of people at a bundh on the Sutlej in Kasabad village said they had witnessed a rise in the level of the Sutlej in the past three days due to continuous rain. Expressing concern over the water level in the river, they wanted the district administration to take requisite measures there.

Gurmit Singh of Noorwala village said: “My village is located near Kasabad and I, along with residents of other villages, came here to check the status of water level of the river. The people are worried here due to the incessant rain. We don’t know what arrangements have been made by the administration to tackle any emergency.”

A resident of Kasabad village said: “If the rain continues in the coming few days, there would be a flood-like situation. We have been keeping a vigil at the level of the Sutlej. The farmers are also worried about the paddy crop that is almost ready for harvesting in the fields located near the banks of the river.”  Sahil, who lives in a slum area on the banks of the Sutlej near Talwandi village, said: “The water level of the Sutlej is rising. The current is more intense compared to that witnessed last week. We want the district administration to take necessary arrangements to prevent floods in the area.” 

A kutcha way leading to the Sutlej banks caved in near Talwandi village. “The administration should take requisite measures. A number of people living in slums near the banks of the river are worried. We had witnessed such situation a few years ago,” said Sahil.

Schools closed today

DC Pardeep Kumar Agrawal has ordered that all schools in the district would remain closed on September 25. He has ordered that all primary and senior secondary schools in the district would remain closed on Tuesday. However, the staff deputed in these schools would remain on duty as usual. 

Court ceiling leaks

Ludhiana: Working of the Court of Judicial Magistrate Jaswinder Pal Singh on Monday came to a standstill as water kept on leaking from the ceiling. More than 150 cases were adjourned without effective work. Several court files also got wet and the staff were seen drying them. Rainwater accumulated on the terrace triggered leakage. OC