The proactive approach of the district administration SAS Nagar prevented a large number of casualties by taking prompt action to tackle grave situation that arose after the swollen Ghaggar broke through the wall and entered Gulmohar City Extension, the largest residential colony of Derabassi.
Deputy Commissioner, Aashika Jain, who arrived at the spot along with ADC (Urban Development) Damandeep Singh Mann to take stock of the relief and rescue operations, said that the rear side of this residential colony with about 1000 flats is adjacent to Ghaggar river and is relatively low geographically.
Today, when the flow of water in Ghaggar increased, the water broke the wall of Gulmohar City Extension and entered inside. As a result, not only the basement was submerged, but the first floor was also flooded.The water level of about 8 to 10 feet created an atmosphere of panic among the residents of Colony and distress calls for immediate rescue started pouring in to the administration.
He said that with immediate effect, ADC (G) Paramdeep Singh was asked to coordinate with the team of NDRF and ADC (Urban Development) Damandeep Singh Mann through the Municipal Council teams to send JCB and evacuation pumps immediately.
According to DC Ashika Jain, if the rescue operation was delayed a little more and the breach in the wall was not plugged on the spot, there was a fear of loss of life and property at this place. She said that due to the team work done by the district administration and the cooperation as well as trust expressed by the residents of the colony in the relief and rescue operations, a major tragedy was averted in Derabassi.
She said that the residents of the 200 to 300 affected flats were delivered morning breakfast by boats, it was also a big task to take them out safely from there and bring them to the safe flats on the other side, which was successfully carried out. Three boats were pressed into this relief operation.
DC Ashika Jain further said, while the breach in the wall of the colony was successfully plugged, the water accumulated in Gulmohar City was taken out by breaking the wall from another place, which brought the water level down.
She said that the pumps operated by the municipal council team for water extraction also proved to be helpful in receding the flooded water.
She said that this operation was taken as a very challenging task in the district.Finally after the water level became normal and a sigh of relief among the people was witnessed after the successful completion of the gigantic rescue operation.
The Deputy Commissioner thanked all the teams who supported the relief and rescue work carried out in Gulmohar City Extension and said that concerted efforts by the all unitedly as a team played the key role in the miraculous success in thwarting the danger to human life and property.