NDRF team in Ropar for five days to familiarise cadets with flood plains of Sutlej

A team of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) is in Ropar for five days to familiarise itself with the flood plains of Punjab.

Deputy Commissioner, Ropar, Varjeet Singh Walia, while talking to The Tribune said that the team that is putting up in Nangal town of Ropar district is here for five days. During July 21 to 25, the team would familiarise itself with the flood plains of Punjab. It would also be conducting a mock drill in Nangal tomorrow.

“It would be carrying out community awareness programmes for public and school children to tackle any kind of disaster situation,” he said.

Ropar district has flood plains of Sutlej river and its tributaries. Though the river has been tamed at Bhakra Dam and Nangal Dam, its tributaries in the district, including the Swan river and Sirsa river still cause floods in monsoons. The rivers are prone to getting inflows of more 1 lakh cusec water during monsoons which causes floods in costal areas.

After the water from Swan and Sirsa rivers enters Sutlej river in Ropar district, it also causes floods in areas lower from Nangal dam.

The sources said that the NDRF would familiarise itself with the flood plains of Ropar district so that its cadres have experience in carrying out rescue operations in case of floods.

This year due to heavy rains in adjoining state of Himachal, the district authorities of Ropar are on high alert and monitoring the flood situation carefully. The people residing on the banks of river Sutlej and its tributaries Swan and Sirsa rivers were at risk in case of floods.