Crops on 1 lakh acres damaged in Patiala

Devigarh (Patiala),

Even as relief measures by various departments continue to pour in, flood-hit villagers are struggling hard to come to terms with the siuation. However, there is a ray of hope for villagers as water has started receding.

“In Patiala district alone, cultivated land of about 1 lakh acres has been damaged due to floods,” said the DC Dipinder Singh. Officials said for Patiala, the Punjab Government had sent an aid of Rs 10 crore, which was being utilised for the repair of roads and other relief operations.

During a visit to Mohalgarh village near the Tangri rivulet on the Haryana border, it came to light that 100-ft breach had virtually wreaked havoc in several villages of the Devigarh area. Villagers told The Tribune that another 600-ft breach in the Tangri rivulet in the Gorsian area of Haryana had caused the maximum damage in the area.

“We have suffered so much damage due to the floods. It will take months to recover from the immense damage. It is surprising that every time the state government awakes from deep slumber when the damage has already been done,” said majority of affected villagers.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) has so far rescued 300 people from different villages. Interacting with the officials, it came to light that work to plug all breaches in the Ghaggar is being carried out on war footing.

“Six-member relief committees have been constituted for accelerating the rescue operations. The teams would comprise officials of the Health, Animal Husbandry, Food and Civil Supplies and Revenue Departments and the Mandi Board,” said DC.