Sub-canal breach floods parts of Bathinda, NDRF teams launch relief ops

Large tracts of fields and several residential areas were inundated after a breach occurred in a sub-canal in suburbs of Punjab’s Bathinda in the early hours of Friday.

A joint team of the district administration and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has launched a relief operation. No loss of life was reported in the incident, district officials said.

Bathinda SDM Sakshi Sahni said about a 40-feet wide breach occured in the sub-canal. The water entered houses in low-lying areas, and submerged cotton and paddy fields. “The NDRF personnel shifted the affected people to safer areas. Two boats were deployed for the rescue operation,” the SDM said.

A team of doctors rushed to the scene. Several NGOs are helping the administration organise relief camps.

“No assessment has been made yet of the damage caused to the crops,” Sahni said.Meanwhile, the local residents blamed the authorities for not repairing the sub-canal despite repeated complaints.

A resident said the water inundated over 100 houses in Sai Nagar area.