Kapurthala (Punjab), Aug 19 (PTI) The situation remained grim in several villages as the swollen Beas river submerged vast tracts of agricultural land under four to five feet of water in Punjab.
Floods have damaged crops sown over hundreds of acres of land in the Mand areas of Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district, an official said on Tuesday.
Several parts of Punjab and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh have been lashed by torrential rains during the past several days, leading to a rise in water level in rivers.
In addition to Kapurthala, several villages along the Beas and Sutlej rivers in Hoshiarpur, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts in Punjab were also affected because of swollen rivers and rivulets in the wake of heavy rains in catchment areas, the official said.
As agricultural fields in affected areas remained submerged, farmers fear heavy losses due to crop damage, with some estimating it to be as much as was caused during the floods in 2023.
Senior officials of the district administrations were visiting the affected areas to take stock of the situation. They asserted that comprehensive arrangements for accommodation, food, clean drinking water, medical supplies and livestock fodder have been made for displaced residents.
Meanwhile, in Chandigarh, Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal presided over a virtual meeting on Tuesday to review the flood situation in the state and directed officials to maintain vigil along all river embankments round-the-clock.
He said that incessant rainfall in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh has resulted in elevated water levels across Punjab’s river systems, necessitating heightened alert.
The minister issued directions to the deputy commissioners of the affected districts to ensure strict round-the-clock surveillance along river embankments within their jurisdictions.
An official statement said deputy commissioners briefed Goyal about the current status of the flood-affected areas. He directed officials to deploy monitoring teams at strategic locations along vulnerable stretches.
Goyal told officials to set up adequate relief camps equipped with essential facilities, including food and medical assistance, for displaced people. PTI COR SUN VN NSD NSD
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