Water released from Harike, due to heavy discharge boat lost control stopped heading towards Pakistan near Hussainiwala

Water released from Harike, due to heavy discharge boat lost control stopped heading towards Pakistan near Hussainiwala

Ferozepur, July 12, 2023:  The impact of heavy discharge of surplus water accumulated at the back end in the Sutlej from HariKe Headworks, after covering 47 km distance up to to Hussainiwala, could be seen in Sutlej at village Dona Mathar and Gajniwala, when the boat returning back in the evening, lost control and started heading towards Pakistan and people jumped in the river to stop it.  When the water was released from Hussainiwala headworks flowed towards Pakistan and affected the nearby villages across the border like Ganda Singh Wala.

The lives of 50 farmers were saved when the fleet of the people of both the villages started going towards Pakistan due to the strong current of the river. It is a matter of luck that as soon as this boat started getting sharp, it struck with water hyacinth plants floating on the surface of river. The people in the boat started shouting, hearing the people around gathered there and they stopped the big one from going off to Pakistan.

As per the information, on Tuesday, 2.11,804 lakh cusecs of water was released from Harike Headworks downstream while 1,12,440 cusecs was released from Hussainiwala.  The pond level of Harike was reported at 685 ft.

In the meantime, the pontoon bridge, known as capsule bridge, by Army connecting Kaluwala surrounded with water from three sides and one side touching Pakistan and other villages, has to be removed due to heavy flow of water in the Sutlej on release from Harike.

Meanwhile, the district administration has shifted certain families from the water affected areas to safer places, set up the control rooms with arrangements of food and fodder for animals at 15 relief camps with responsibility to look after by the various Nodal Officers at the sub-division level. Around 60 families have taken shelter at the government primary school in the village.  Besides, the administration is trying to rescue the stranded people with the help of BSF, Army and NDRF. The district administration is already ascertaining the loss of crops in the affected areas.