Fazilka villagers fear repeat of 2023 tragedy

Residents of Fazilka’s Teja Ruhela village, situated a stone’s throw away from the India-Pakistan border, fear a repeat of the 2023 tragedy when a local resident and their belongings were swept away in flood waters.

They said it took almost two years to bring their lives back on track, only to see the destruction once again with little help from the government.

Cheeta Singh, who carried his son on his shoulders, while wading through knee-deep water said he was left with no option but to shift his children to a relative’s place.

His relative held an infant in his arms while other family members supported each other while crossing the flooded village. Cheeta Singh, however, said he would stay back to take care of his home as the village had been surrounded by flood waters.

In 2023, Pappu Singh (20) was swept away in the strong current of the Sutlej.

Kala Singh, another villager, said no compensation was given to his family after the past flooding and they feared the repeat of the 2023 tragedy.

Mahal Singh said they always paid heavy price during a natural calamity but the government never extended them any relief. He said his house had collapsed during the 2023 floods.

Fearing worsening of the situation, he, like others, has shifted his household items to the roof of his house after the direct road connectivity of Teja Ruhela and another 10 villages situated along the Sutlej creek have been snapped. According to officials, the standing crop over 800 acres has been be damaged in the village.

Sources in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office said 2.20 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Hussainiwala headworks today, which could also enter residential areas in one or two days.

Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu has directed villagers to arrange “thikri pehras” in 20 flood-affected villages to prevent any mishap as the water level has increased. The police personnel have also been deployed at vital Kawanwali Bridge to prevent any mishap.