Karnal: Yamuna water starts receding

Our crops are damaged and the government says it will provide compensation, but why didn’t it take steps to prevent the problem?

RAM SINGH, a villager

KARNAL: Normal life in about 10 villages of Karnal district still remains flood affected as the overflowing Yamuna river has disconnected these villages from the rest of the areas.

Rescue teams have been deputed in these villages and the affected families are being taken to safer places. The administration has appointed a team of doctors to provide medical assistance to the villagers.

“Not only human lives, but cattle are also facing problems as there was no fodder for them for the past three days” said Dharampal, a resident of Nagla village of Karnal district. “Though the government is making efforts to reach the people and take them out, it is very difficult for the residents to leave all their possessions, home and cattle behind,” he added.

The inhabitants said that their crop was already damaged and their houses too would be ruined as they are waterlogged since four days.

Villager Ram Singh said, “Our crops are damaged and the government says it will provide compensation, but why didn’t it take steps to prevent the problem?”

When contacted, Karnal deputy commissioner (DC) Aditya Dahiya said that in all, 14 villages were affected in the district due to flood water and a few others were cut off as the roads too were under water.

“The affected people are being taken out with the help of boats. Drinking water and medicines were also provided besides immediate response teams being deputed,” he said.

He further said that the water has started receding and the connectivity to all these villages will be restored by the Tuesday.

In Panipat, the water started receding but the crops of several acres were still under water and the farmers complained of nonavailability of fodder for their cattle.

However, deputy commissioner Sumedha Kataria said the water started receding and life will be normal in next few hours and there was no threat to life in the district.

Similarly in Yamunanagar, the officials said that there was no water in the residential areas and only crops low-lying areas were affected. They said the water flow at the Hathini Kund Barrage in Yamunanagar has come to normal and was reported around 50,000 cusecs by Monday evening.