12 yrs on, Muktsar village faces floods again

Twelve years after a devastating monsoon forced residents of Udekaran village near here to flee their homes, they now find themselves in a similar situation.

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Heavy rainfall over the past three days has once again submerged vast stretches of farmland, leaving crops ruined.

Fields that should have been green with standing paddy now appear more like shallow lakes, stretching far and wide.

“All successive state governments have failed to find a solution to our problem. Even the Chief Minister had visited our village in 2013. The rainwater from neighbouring villages starts accumulating here every year due to the village’s low-lying topography. The installation of lift pumps is the need of the hour,” said Gurlabh Singh, a former sarpanch of Udekaran village.

An elderly farmer, Baghicha Singh, said, “This is not just about crops. This is about our future. If the administration doesn’t act now, the next spell of rain could push us to the brink once again.”

Sukhcharan Singh, sarpanch of Udekaran, said, “The rains in 2013, 2016, and 2019 caused widespread damage in our village. A drainage project was commissioned, but it could not yield the desired results.”

Meanwhile, some officials from the Water Resources Department visited the village to inspect the situation.

Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur visited Jandwala Charhat Singh village today to assess the situation, where some houses were damaged due to the rain. She promised the best possible assistance to the affected families.

The villages mainly affected by waterlogging were Kotli Ablu, Kothe Kesar Singh Wala, Kothe Cheedianwale, Kothe Naiwale, Kauni, Harike Kalan, Mallan, and Bhallaiana.

Health Dept issues advisory

The Health Department on thursday issued an advisory urging the residents to drink only boiled or chlorinated water, maintain hygiene and avoid stale or uncovered food. Chief Medical Officer Jagdeep Chawla said in case of fever, diarrhoea or snakebite, the public should contact a nearby health centre immediately.