Continuous rain in Himachal Pradesh and cloud bursts in the Jammu region have increased water levels in the rivers, especially the Ravi and Beas in Punjab. Villagers living near these rivers and those in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts are having sleepless nights.
Akashvani’s correspondent reports, more than 20 villages in Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur and about 10 villages in the border district of Pathankot have been affected due to the overflowing of rivers. Hundreds of villagers have been brought to shelter homes and standing paddy crop has also been washed away in parts of both Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.
The concerned district administrations have put senior officials on duty for round-the-clock vigil and have appealed to the residents to move to shelter homes. Meanwhile, Punjab’s Water Resources Minister, Barinder Kumar Goyal, has reviewed the prevailing situation and has instructed to ensure swift mitigation measures and safeguard the lives of both people and livestock as well as property.
He confirmed that around 14,200 acres of land across Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts have been affected by floodwaters. A departmental surveillance management system has been put in place with 24-hour monitoring to facilitate immediate response and intervention measures.
In Punjab, in view of the prevailing flood-like conditions in several districts, the state government has mobilised a comprehensive health and emergency response network. The increase in water levels of the Ravi and Beas Rivers has affected some areas of Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts, forcing the villagers to shift to shelter homes.
With over 2,000 hospital beds kept ready across districts, the state has created a strong buffer to tackle any possible epidemic. Health camps have already been set up in Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.
State’s Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Balbir Singh, has announced that 438 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), 323 Mobile Medical Teams, and 172 ambulances have been mobilised to ensure timely medical aid in affected regions. He has cautioned people to remain vigilant regarding water-borne diseases and call the government’s 104 toll-free Helpline Number to report any health issue.
