MOHALI: Floods ravaged the district on Sunday for the first time since its inception as three villages were inundated, six houses washed away and 25 buffaloes dead following a breach in an earthen dam caused by heavy rainfall lashing the region since Saturday.
The dam on Naggal seasonal rivulet had catchment area extended up to 11km and was made by soil and water conservation department in 2011. The dam had a height of 15ft to 20ft. Water from seasonal rivulets from higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh passing through Baddi and Barotiwala fall into the Naggal rivulet.
The water from the dam went on to submerge the Mullanpur-Kurali double lane road after Medicity. Floodwater could be seen passing over the main road, stalling traffic for over four hours.
The most affected were Choti Naggal and Badi Naggal villages in Majri block. Both were cut-off after a part of the main road was washed away. In Parol village, water entered many houses and inundated roads.
Residents of Choti Naggal and Badi Naggal said some villagers was around 6.30am saw water gushing towards the village and sounded an alert. Bhag Chand, former panch of Naggal, said, “We immediately made public announcements from a gurdwara, warning people to vacate their houses and reach for safer places. Most of the villagers were then sleeping.”
Chand said most of the houses rely on dairy farming for their earnings and the entire produce went to waste as no supply could be made to customers.
Achhar Singh, a local resident, said, “We lost seven buffaloes. A major part of our house collapsed. Our tractor and trolley was stuck in the mud. We have sustained losses worth lakhs of rupees.”
A family of four — Surinder Singh, his wife Paramjit Kaur and their two children — had a miraculous escape as they were asleep when the floodwaters hit their house. Paramjit said, “We were sleeping when we heard a cracking sound. Immediately, there was an announcement to vacate houses. We rushed out to see a cattle pound being washed away. Our six buffaloes died.”
Mohali deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan reached the spot to take stock of the situation. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), area station house officer, veterinary doctor and officials of soil conservation department were present during the survey.
Dayalan said, “We are assessing the loss and all remedial measures have been made. The work to construct the broken road will be started probably by Monday. Report has been sought from the soil and water conservation department for the causes of the breach of the earthen dam.”
In Zirakpur, many low-lying parts were submerged in floodwaters. Derabassi SDM Pooja Sayal after inspecting the flood-hit area said around 20 to 25 hutments near Mubarakpur were submerged in water. She said, “The flood was caused due to overflowing of Ghaggar river passing in vicinity of the village. We have already placed the rescue and relief work in order and have advised people not to go near river banks.”
Students, teachers rescued
Students and teachers of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Rakoli village, near Jhingran Kalan in Mohali, were rescued by a team of Mohali administration after they were stuck in floodwaters in the school building. Mohali DC Girish Dayalan said around 430 students and 40 teachers and other staff members were evacuated from the school building which was submerged in 3foot deep water. All the teachers reside in the school with their families, he said. Sources said the school had been illegally constructed on the Siswan seasonal rivulet bed. The school was set up in 2009 by the Mohali administration without taking the pre-requisite no objection certificate (NOC) from the district drainage department, the DC said
Villagers lose milk business
The 60 to 80-odd families residing in Choti Naggal and Badi Naggal villages primarily depend on milk production and sell 40 to 50 quintals daily. With the breach of approach road to the village, residents claimed they lost business worth lakhs of rupees and milk produced on Sunday went waste.
Emergency numbers fail: Villagers
Villagers alleged the golden hour was lost while trying to get connected to helpline numbers like 100, 112 and 101. Bhag Chand, former panch of Naggal village, said, “At around 7 am we made phone calls to 100, 112 and 101 but they did not get connected. When they did, the call went to Chandigarh police. We lost around two hours while looking for help, and till then the damage was done.”
The dam on Naggal seasonal rivulet had catchment area extended up to 11km and was made by soil and water conservation department in 2011. The dam had a height of 15ft to 20ft. Water from seasonal rivulets from higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh passing through Baddi and Barotiwala fall into the Naggal rivulet.
The water from the dam went on to submerge the Mullanpur-Kurali double lane road after Medicity. Floodwater could be seen passing over the main road, stalling traffic for over four hours.
The most affected were Choti Naggal and Badi Naggal villages in Majri block. Both were cut-off after a part of the main road was washed away. In Parol village, water entered many houses and inundated roads.
Residents of Choti Naggal and Badi Naggal said some villagers was around 6.30am saw water gushing towards the village and sounded an alert. Bhag Chand, former panch of Naggal, said, “We immediately made public announcements from a gurdwara, warning people to vacate their houses and reach for safer places. Most of the villagers were then sleeping.”
Chand said most of the houses rely on dairy farming for their earnings and the entire produce went to waste as no supply could be made to customers.
Achhar Singh, a local resident, said, “We lost seven buffaloes. A major part of our house collapsed. Our tractor and trolley was stuck in the mud. We have sustained losses worth lakhs of rupees.”
A family of four — Surinder Singh, his wife Paramjit Kaur and their two children — had a miraculous escape as they were asleep when the floodwaters hit their house. Paramjit said, “We were sleeping when we heard a cracking sound. Immediately, there was an announcement to vacate houses. We rushed out to see a cattle pound being washed away. Our six buffaloes died.”
Mohali deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan reached the spot to take stock of the situation. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), area station house officer, veterinary doctor and officials of soil conservation department were present during the survey.
Dayalan said, “We are assessing the loss and all remedial measures have been made. The work to construct the broken road will be started probably by Monday. Report has been sought from the soil and water conservation department for the causes of the breach of the earthen dam.”
In Zirakpur, many low-lying parts were submerged in floodwaters. Derabassi SDM Pooja Sayal after inspecting the flood-hit area said around 20 to 25 hutments near Mubarakpur were submerged in water. She said, “The flood was caused due to overflowing of Ghaggar river passing in vicinity of the village. We have already placed the rescue and relief work in order and have advised people not to go near river banks.”
Students, teachers rescued
Students and teachers of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Rakoli village, near Jhingran Kalan in Mohali, were rescued by a team of Mohali administration after they were stuck in floodwaters in the school building. Mohali DC Girish Dayalan said around 430 students and 40 teachers and other staff members were evacuated from the school building which was submerged in 3foot deep water. All the teachers reside in the school with their families, he said. Sources said the school had been illegally constructed on the Siswan seasonal rivulet bed. The school was set up in 2009 by the Mohali administration without taking the pre-requisite no objection certificate (NOC) from the district drainage department, the DC said
Villagers lose milk business
The 60 to 80-odd families residing in Choti Naggal and Badi Naggal villages primarily depend on milk production and sell 40 to 50 quintals daily. With the breach of approach road to the village, residents claimed they lost business worth lakhs of rupees and milk produced on Sunday went waste.
Emergency numbers fail: Villagers
Villagers alleged the golden hour was lost while trying to get connected to helpline numbers like 100, 112 and 101. Bhag Chand, former panch of Naggal village, said, “At around 7 am we made phone calls to 100, 112 and 101 but they did not get connected. When they did, the call went to Chandigarh police. We lost around two hours while looking for help, and till then the damage was done.”
Quick Links
Lok Sabha Election Schedule 2019Lok Sabha Election NewsDelhi Capitals teamMI team 2019Rajasthan Royals 2019RCB team 2019Maharashtra Lok Sabha ConstituenciesBJP Candidate ListBJP List 2019 TamilnaduShiv Sena List 2019AP BJP List 2019Mamata BanerjeeBJP List 2019 MaharashtraPriyanka GandhiBJP List 2019 KarnatakaAMMK Candidate List 2019BJP List 2019 WBLok Sabha Elections in Tamil NaduBSP List 2019 UPNews in TamilLok Sabha Poll 2019Satta Matka 2018PM ModiMahagathbandhanNagpur BJP Candidate ListChandrababu NaiduTamil Nadu ElectionsUrmila MatondkarNews in TeluguMadras High CourtTejashwi YadavArvind KejriwalTejasvi SuryaPawan KalyanArvind KejriwalYogi AdityanathJaya PradaSatta King 2019Srinagar encounter
Get the app