Rising level of Sutlej triggers unrest among border residents, houses collapsed, standing crop submerged

Ferozepur, September 26, 2018: With water levels in Sutlej river rising, several low-lying areas have been inundated in Ferozepur resulting in a collapse of four houses in village Nihale Khilcha and submerging of standing paddy crop.

However, no loss of life has so far reported. The affected families are living under the open sky as there are no arrangements of tents and eatables by the government.

Deputy Commissioner, B.S.Dhaliwal along with the Irrigation and army officers visited the border villages today – Gajniwala, Choki Joginder Singh, Dona Telu Mal, Gatti Mattar, Chak Rao Ke Hittar, Raja Rai, Bhamba Haji etc. Earlier also, he had visited the border villages and as precautionary measures, all arrangements have been made. He confirmed that 50,000 cusecs water has been released slowly to avoid any loss.

Deputy Commissioner said a helpline number 01632-244024 has been set up to give any flood-related information or for seeking any help.

 In the past few days, there had been incidents of deaths in certain states due to heavy rains besides creating inconvenience in a day to day life and the rising level of Satluj river in Ferozepur has created problems for the residents of border villages. 

As per the latest information, According to Irrigation department, today morning there was 5082 cusecs water flow, out of which 38817 cusecs was being released in the downstream which further increased the water level in Satluj River resulting in damage of crops of the farmers.  Red alert was also announced to the dozens of villages of a border around Makhu and Hussainiwala.

As per the information, there are chances of rising of water level at Hari Ke headworks which is increasing since yesterday.

Every year the farmers of border villages had to suffer the loss of their crops as the water enters their fields.  They confirmed that the banks of rivers were repaired about three years back and there is the number of breaches and after that, the Drainage Department had never seen repairing and maintaining the banks as well as the Bandh. Farmers of border villages – Kunde, Ali Ke, Kamal Wala, Chandi Wala, Gatti Rajo Ke, Tendi Wala situated on the bank of Satluj River -are worried over the miserable and deteriorated condition of the banks of the river and Dhusi Bandh and the damage of crops. They have demanded relief from the government without any loss of time besides making arrangements for basic amenities like medicines and fodder for cattle.  

On the other hand, the district administration claimed to have all arrangements to meet any flood-like situation in the border villages as precautionary measures.