RISING WATER IN GHAGGAR Holiday in 29 schools today Ravneet Singh Patiala, July 16 Over 400 residents of the Gopal Colony had to leave their house after rainwater of the Badi Nadi entered their houses on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. The residents are forced to stay at a relief camp. The arrangements of their temporary stay and provisions of food have been made by the district adminsitration. Walls of a number of houses in the colony have tilted leading to danger of a mishap. The water-level of the Badi nadi that usually remains at 3-4 feet was at 11-feet on Tuesday morning. The administration remained on toes throughout the day. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kumar Amit visited the affected areas to take stock of the situation. The meteorological department recorded the rainfall at 89.22 mm on Monday. Water was collected at various parts of the city after which the district administration has declared a holiday for students of 29 primary and secondary schools on July 17 (Wednesday). Panic gripped the city residents as soon as the news spread around and residents flocked to the Badi nadi to witness the situation there. Residents of the Gopal Colony said the administration failed to inform or alert them of rising water levels. Dimple, a resident of a nearby area said, “This colony is low lying and is adjacent to Badi Nadi. The administration should have informed the people in time and ensured proper facilities for evacuation are kept handy in need. They have come to the area in the morning after the colony is already flooded.” Aseem, another resident, said, “The water has entered our houses. It has become difficult for us to bring our belongings and children out. We do not have any food or place to stay while the hutments here have been totally destroyed.” The administration also lacked provisions of boats and disaster management in the likeliness of a flood like situation. In the evening various NGOs also reached the city to provide help in form of food, medicines and other material for the residents. The workers of Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and other volunteers started providing food, tents and medicines to the affected people. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kumar Amit today held a special meeting of officials of the drainage department, police and the army to prepare teams to tackle any untoward situation. He said cases will be registered against all those restricting the natural flow of water. The DC said, “The situation is under control and the water level has started falling. All the officials in the district are on standby. People are requested to co-operate and not panic.”

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