Houses develop cracks, villagers seek govt help

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 25

Even as water has drained out of houses at Motipur Khalsa village in Phillaur, floods have left the villagers devastated as their dwellings have developed cracks.

Joginder Kaur, 73, who spent nights on the terrace, said the cemented house was her only asset and now it too had been damaged. “If it rains again, the water will enter rooms of my house due to the cracks. Ever since my family shifted here, everything was going on smoothly, even with our meagre income. At least, we had a roof over our head. Now it’s all over,” she said.

On a visit to her house, her son Bhupinder pointed towards the damaged lavatory and cattle shed. The roofs of both have developed large cracks after it rained continuously for around 48 hours.

Other villagers too have similar tales to narrate. Ex- sarpanch Lakhwinder Singh said besides washing away walls of five or six houses, floods destroyed kutcha houses. Among the affected are Jarnail Singh, Surinder Singh, Satinder Singh, Baljinder Singh and others.

Not sure of how he would rebuild his house that he had built after borrowing money from his relatives, labourer Bahadur Singh, 54, said he wanted the government to provide immediate help.