Ghaggar water receding, no need to panic: Patiala Administration

The water level in the Ghaggar is receding, especially near the Sarala Kalan head in the district, which had witnessed two breaches — one in the Satluj Yamuna Link Canal and the other in the Narwana branch of the canal. It is now flowing at 14.8 feet, below the danger mark of 16 feet. The river had been flowing about the 17-foot mark for the past some days.

According to the data collected on Sunday, the water level in the river near Bhankarpur village was at 1.50 feet, well below the danger level of 10 feet. The level in Pachisdhara Nullah has also come down considerably — 5.5 feet against the danger level of 12 feet.

However, the Tangri river, which covers much of the areas in Haryana and passes through parts of Patiala, is flowing four feet above the danger mark of 12 feet, followed by the Markanda river at 22.3 feet, just above the danger mark of 22 feet.

In a respite for the residents of Patiala, the water level in the river in Patiala is only 0.8 foot. The district administration said crops on about 808 hectares in 105 villages had been affected as a swollen Ghaggar had overflowed into the fields.

Deputy Commissioner Preet Yadav said no breach had been reported in the banks. The floodwater has claimed one life in the district.

Health Minister visits Patran, Samana hospitals

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh today visited the government hospitals at Patran and Samana.

The Health Minister interacted with patients and also distributed medicine kits to ASHA workers to be delivered to villagers during awareness drives.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, he said new recruitments would soon be made in hospitals facing a shortage of doctors and staff nurses. He said the government was working swiftly on a plan to ensure 24-hour emergency services and healthcare facilities in the state’s main hospitals.

Dr Balbir Singh said the regional hospitals such as Patran and Samana facilities would be equipped with advanced facilities so that people could get better treatment within their own areas.

Appreciated the Health Department staff. He said the doctors, nurses and other staff members had demonstrated a true spirit of service in this difficult time. He directed the hospital management to ensure that patients faced no inconvenience and that no effort was spared in their care.

Samana MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Patran MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar, SDMs Ashok Kumar and Samana Richa Goel, Civil Surgeon Jagpal Inder Singh were also present.