Pong Dam Flood Gates Opened; 3 Dead in Punjab Floods, Haryana CM Extends Help
Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu)- Due to heavy rains in the hilly areas, 7 districts in Punjab are in the grip of floods due to the continuous release of water from the dams. Due to which the flood gates of Pong Dam were opened. At the same time, 2 people died in Madhopur and 1 person in Gurdaspur due to being swept away in the floods. 3 people of Gujjar family are missing in Pathankot. The body of a girl child has been found here.
The water in Pong Dam crossed the danger level of 1390 feet and reached 1396 feet. Due to which the flood gates were opened. The administration has asked people to stay away from the river. Meanwhile, CM Bhagwant Mann reached Beas and took stock of the flood affected area.
In Punjab, the situation is very bad in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Fazilka. More than 150 villages here have been affected by floods. There is 5 to 7 feet of water in many areas. More than 2000 people were rescued and taken to relief camps in Ferozepur. Army, NDRF, Police and other agencies are engaged in relief and rescue work. Land and water vehicles have been deployed in the flood affected areas. The number of flood affected villages in Ajnala, Amritsar has increased from 15 to 25. Rescue operations are going on here.
Haryana CM Saini extended a helping hand
The BJP government of Haryana has extended a helping hand to the flood-affected Punjab. Chief Minister Naib Saini wrote a letter to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Thursday and assured all possible help. Also, CM Saini expressed concern over the serious flood situation in Punjab. Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini has said that the Haryana government and the people stand with Punjab in the hour of disaster. In a letter sent to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, CM Saini wrote, "I am extremely saddened to know about the difficulties arising due to the flood situation in Punjab. Our brothers and sisters of Punjab are suffering a lot in this natural disaster. The Haryana government and the people of Haryana stand with Punjab in this difficult time. If you need any kind of help - relief material, rescue team, medical assistance or other resources, please let us know."
The Haryana Chief Minister further wrote in the letter, "I assure you of providing all possible help, wherever you ask, immediately. Our aim is to provide relief to every person affected in this hour of crisis as soon as possible." Let us tell you that many districts in Punjab have been badly affected due to continuous rains and release of water from dams. The worst affected districts include Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Pathankot. Apart from this, other districts surrounded by flood waters are Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ropar, Anandpur Sahib and Fazilka. Countless people's houses have been submerged in the flood, while the crops of the farmers are ruined. However, relief and rescue work is also going on at war footing in all the areas. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has asked all the cabinet ministers, MLAs and officials to stay in their respective areas and reach out to the needy people in this hour of grave crisis.