Sutlej submerges thousands of acres at 15 Fazilka villages

Thousands of acres were inundated in at least 15 villages of Fazilka district as the authorities released close to 80,000 cusecs of Sutlej water from the Hussainiwala headworks.

Several villages in the district had already been facing a flood-like situation due to the accumulation of rainwater, allegedly due to inefficient drainage system.

An official source said whenever more than 50,000 cusecs of water was released from the headworks, it was considered a flood situation.

However, no such announcement has been made by the government so far.

The villages hit by the discharge of excess water include Ram Singh Bhaini, Jhangar Bhaini, Mahatam Nagar, Retewali Bhaini, Dhani Sadda Singh, Walleshah Hithar, Teja Rohela, Dona Nanka, Mohar Jamsher in Fazilka subdivision and Attu Wala, Phulle Wala, Khane Ke, Prabhat Singh Wala Hithar, Chak Khiva, Jodha Bhaini villages in Jalalabad subdivision.

Attu Wala village of the Jalalabad segment is the worst hit. Its link with other nearby areas has been completely snapped, virtually turning it into an island.

Amrik Singh, husband of village sarpanch Vidya Rani, said the main road leading to the village had been submerged in at least 10-foot-deep water.

“We have only one boat to ferry people,” he said, adding that standing crops over hundreds of acres had been permanently damaged. He alleged that they had been left to fend for themselves. Amrik Singh demanded from the administration to provide additional boat and green fodder for cattle.

Boota Singh, former sarpanch of Dhani Sadda Singh village, said water entered about 700 acres in their area. “It may enter our homes soon due to which several villagers have shifted their belongings to the rooftops,” he said alleging that nobody turned up to help them.

Drainage Department XEN Gurvir Singh Sidhu said the riverwater has entered low-lying villages near the Sutlej creek.

Ferozepur villages also hit

Ferozepur: Standing crops over hundreds of acres were damaged as the riverwater entered several villages here following release of excess water from headworks Harike in the district.

The affected villages include Dheera Ghara, Nihala Kilcha, Kamale Wala, Muthian Wali, Bandala and Sultanwala, which are situated along the Sutlej close to the India-Pakistan border.

Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma, along with a battery of officials, visited the affected areas.

She said the situation was under control as of now. The DC said teams had been formed to deal with every situation while all necessary arrangements for setting up of relief camps had been made.

The administration also instructed officials concerned not to leave their duty station or proceed on leave.

On the other side, former sarpanch of Dheera Ghara Gurmej Singh claimed that over 5,000 acres were submerged in and around his village. He said hundreds of houses had been inundated. “In 2023 also, we had suffered huge losses due to the rise in the Sutlej water level. Still, we have not been able to repair the houses that were damaged then. Now, water has again entered our houses and fields,” he said.

Arshdeep Singh of Nihala Kilcha village said it had become difficult for them to arrange fodder for cattle. — OC