People from 3 states toil to plug breach

Pawan K JaiswarTribune News Service

Ghonewal (Ajnala), September 7

A large number of persons, not only from the state but also from Haryana and Rajasthan, have been working tirelessly to plug the massive breach in the Dhussi bundh (earthen embankment) that led to the flooding of the Ajnala border sub-division within two to three days.

The work on plugging the 500 m and around 30-40 feet deep breach in this village has been going on at war footing, courtesy the Kar Sewa Sect Guru Ka Bagh and the district administration.

The gushing water entered the villages through the huge breach, causing enormous devastation in Ghonewal and adjoining Machhiwal village. The two villages were marooned under 10-12 foot water, leaving many houses damaged within few minutes leaving no time for the residents to escape.

The breach triggered massive floods following a large volume of water released from the dams after heavy rains and flashfloods in the catchment areas of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.

Around 190 villages in the Ajnala border sub-division suffered widespread damage. Seven persons died, while over 1.3 lakh persons were badly impacted during these floods since August 27.

According to information, there are 14 breaches reported in the Ajnala belt and a maximum of these are in Ghonewal and Machhiwal villages. Apart from this, breaches also occurred in Kot Razada, Rorewal and Malakpur villages.

Several of these villages are still inaccessible. “These could be accessible after the breaches ahead get plugged,” said Gurbir Singh, Executive Engineer. “As the conditions are harsh because of the terrain, rains and snakes, it would take around 15 days to a month to plug these breaches,” said Gurbir, adding that religious organisations and the Army were also associated in these operations.

A volunteer Jagwinder Singh, a resident of Naushera Dhalla border village in Attari, said he, along with other volunteers, brought langar for the sangat involved in the plugging the breach.

The scene at the Ghonewal is a perfect example of Punjabiat as children, elderly women and men could be seen working here.

Harpartap Singh, a teenager from the Sarangra border village, along with other volunteers, brought around 10 tractor-trailers of earth to be used in the plugging.

Baba Kulbir Singh of Guru Ka Bagh Kar Sewa Sect said sangats from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh were coming in huge numbers for this sewa. He said it would take around 10 days to plug the breach.