Muktsar struggles with flooding as helpline goes silent in 5 days

Fresh rain on Thursday worsened the situation in waterlogged Muktsar town even as the district’s flood control room number — set up just five days ago to register complaints — went out of order, leaving residents with nowhere to go.

The failure of the helpline (01633-260341) has sparked public outrage, with many accusing the administration of apathy. Meanwhile, several parts of the town remain waterlogged. Crumbling roads, overflowing manholes and stinking stagnant water have made daily life miserable here.

The worst-hit areas include Jalalabad Road, Kacha Bhagsar Road, Bura Gujjar Road, Gandhi Nagar, Bhullar Colony, Jodhu Colony, Vinayak Colony, Kotli Road, Mal Godown Road and Adarsh Nagar. Locals have staged protests and met senior officials — including the Deputy Commissioner and Municipal Council President — but say their complaints remain unaddressed.

‘Impossible to live’

“Even on normal days, sewage flows in the streets. Now, with broken roads and constant waterlogging, it’s impossible to live here,” said Darshana Rani, a resident of Gandhi Nagar. Others said people had been injured after falling into rain-filled potholes.

Frustrated by inaction, residents plan to meet local MLA Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar on Friday.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Thind acknowledged the situation. “The Municipal Council recently passed development works, and a committee of four officials was formed to oversee these. Its report has been submitted and will now be sent to the state government for approval,” he said.

The ADC added that sewage work under the AMRUT 2.0 project was in progress and the Punjab Mandi Board would soon begin road repairs. The ADC also assured that the helpline would be restored shortly.

‘Delay in works’

Municipal Council president Krishan Kumar Shammi Tehria blamed the state government for the delays. “Works worth crores were approved on April 24, but not a single project has started. The state government knows the reason behind it,” he said.

In nearby villages like Udekaran on Kotkapura Road, rainwater has flooded fields for the past about a week now. Farmer Jagmeet Singh Nanakpura said, “Officials and the MLA have visited villages twice, but nothing has been done. Every time it rains, we suffer losses. The government must act now.”