Flood threat looms over Punjab's Ferozepur as Pakistan releases more water into Indian territory

A flood threat is looming large over Punjab’s border district of Ferozepur after Pakistan released more water into the Indian territory, washing away a major portion of an embankment in the catchment area of the Sutlej River. The state government has deployed NDRF and Army teams in the area as a precautionary measure, officials said on Sunday.

"Pakistan has released water in huge quantity which caused damage to the embankment in Tendiwala village, and there is danger of floods in some villages," a spokesperson of the Punjab government said.

"Being on guard, the district administration has announced evacuation in most sensitive villages along the Sutlej River as a precautionary step besides deploying various teams of the health department, food and civil supplies department and others," he added.

Taking note of the grim situation, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has directed Water Resources Department to work out a joint action plan with the Army to repair the embankment at the village on the Indo-Pak border.

"Presiding over a high-level meeting to review the flood situation in Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Rupnagar districts, he directed the principal secretary Water Resources to ensure strengthening of Tendiwala embankment on war footing to avert the flooding of nearby villages," an official statement said.

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The spokesperson asked people not to panic and remain calm, assuring that the administration is geared up for any situation and relief work at vulnerable points is going on at a fast pace. The authorities have stacked sand filled gunny bags in a huge quantity and work is on to strengthen the embankment in Tendiwala village.

"In the wake of the damage to the embankment due to heavy discharge of water from the Pakistan side, the strengthening work of Tendiwala embankment is being undertaken on war footing," the spokesperson said.

A few days back, as many as 17 villages of Ferozepur district were flooded after Pakistan opened headworks gates in its area on the Sutlej River. Several villages of Ferozepur remain already inundated because of the recent rains and breaches in embankments of the river.

(With inputs from PTI)