Alert sounded in 78 villages of Patiala along Ghaggar river

As the water level in Ghaggar has been rising, the Patiala district administration has sounded an alert in 78 villages near the river banks in Devigarh, Ghanaur, Sanaur and Patran.

Out of 78, paddy fields in 65 villages have been inundated.

The administration claims that there has been no erosion of embankment so far.

On Wednesday, the authorities had sounded an alert that a potential breach of embankment could occur anytime and as a precautionary measure, the administration had advised residents of 21 villages located near the Ghaggar to shift at safer places or at government shelter.

At Sarala Kalan head, army and NDRF are on standby to tackle any eventuality related to the water level of the Ghaggar. Boats and other life-saving equipments have been assembled.

MGNREGA workers are busy filling sand bags and are camping near Sarala village where the water flow is expected to erode the embankment.

Sarala Kalan is a crucial location in terms of water allocation to the neighbouring state of Haryana as a syphon of the Bhakra canal that feeds Haryana runs under the Ghaggar riverbed. As the flood water carries a lot of sand and weeds, any flooding could lead to snapping of water supply as the weed and sand may clog the syphon, said one of the officials monitoring the situation.

In a revised reading of water level, the irrigation department has stated that at Sarala Head, the water level has reached 17 feet, which is the surface level of 65-year-old defunct bridge built on the river.

The Tangri river, which covers most of the areas in Haryana and crosses through parts of Patiala, is flowing 2 ft above the danger mark.