Receding waters leave trail of destruction in Fazilka

The receding Sutlej waters in flood-hit Fazilka villages have left a trail of destruction, with a majority of roads either completely washed away or left unfit for travel by motor vehicles.

Close to 4,200 houses have also been badly damaged in the 111 affected villages. Crops were damaged on over 62,000 acres.

According to officials, the numbers are likely to go up as a girdawari (assessment) is currently in progress.

Initial estimates showed that the floodwaters had damaged nearly 127 km of road network, including 48 link roads, which had entirely disappeared. A senior Punjab Mandi Board official said they required immediate assistance of Rs 20 crore to repair the roads as per initial estimates. The board maintains village roads across Punjab, utilising the Rural Development Fund.

Surinder Singh of Ram Singh Bhaini said, “Vehicles, including tractors, can’t be taken out on roads due to the large-scale damage.” “Besides the removal silt deposited in the agriculture fields, the devastated road network is another major issue,” said Karnail Singh of Teja Ruhela village, demanding the repair of the roads on a priority basis. The board official said the work had begun to restore traffic.

Open defecation a challenge

Meanwhile, villagers highlighted the collapse of toilet pits, where the human waste is stored and decomposes.

“We have to switch back to open defecation for the time being,” said a Dona Nanka village resident. According to an estimate, hundreds of such pits built in houses collapsed in floodwater, leaving families exposed to health risks. Gurmeet Singh said nearly two hundred such pits had been destroyed in Chak Ruhela and Teja Ruhela villages. Besides, a large number of electric and solar water motors have been damaged.

“Seven water motors were stolen from Korianwali village in the past two days,” said Purshotam Kumar.

Gulaba Bhaini village resident Harbans Singh, whose land falls across the barbed wire on the India-Pakistan, border said the government should lift silt from the fields as it was a costly affair and they were marginal farmers. Several villagers said foul smell had started emanating from the stagnant water in some areas, threating the breakout of diseases. Former Congress MLA Mohinder Kumar Rinwa sought a special package for the area besides relief for labourers.