A seven-member ministerial team of the Government of India on Wednesday inspected flood-hit areas of the district to assess the loss suffered due to floods. The team included Financial Advisor, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Ravinesh Kumar, Director Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department BK Shrivastava, Head Flood Mapping and Scientist Engineer Dr AV Suresh Babu, Under Secretary SAGY Kailash Kumar, Director M&A Dte Ashok Kumar Jeph, Assistant Director (PFS) Anjali Maurya and SERE Ministry of Road Navin Kumar Chaurasia were explained by Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal about the devastation caused by the floods and relief measures undertaken by the district administration in circuit house.
During the presentation, the Deputy Commissioner said that villages falling in the Shahkot sub-division had witnessed large scale destruction and six breaches were reported due to floods.He briefed the team about the relief and rescue operations carried out as well as the rehabilitation efforts afoot to extend succour to the aggrieved people.
Sarangal said that the floods had damaged the 22476-acre area in 25 villages, crops on the 13108-acre in 40 villages, 50 houses and 30 schools were badly affected besides PSPCL suffered the loss Rs 139.60 lakh approximately in form of damaged to poles, plant and other infrastructure. He also mentioned that the agricultural department has provided free sapling of Basmati 1509 and PR 126 in flood affected areas , resulting in resowing in nearly 6400 acres .
He also informed the team that farmers would not be able to resowing in more than 5000 acre area due to waterlogged. He also said that the administration had sounded an alert 48-hour before floods in 50 villages and its' teams safely evacuated 12000 people till the tragedy hit the district.
1160 people were evacuated through boats from their houses. 24 health teams were deputed which treated 14600 people mostly complained of diarrhoea, skin diseases and etc.
The Animal Husbandry department was also tasked to treat the livestock of the affected persons which ensured no casualty. The Deputy commissioner also said that the administration had immediately started relief works when floodwater had entered.
He said that the teams distributed 105000 ration kits involving support from state, local and one lakh water bottles. Mosquito nets, sanitary napkins and other necessary items were also distributed. He said that two teams of NDRF and SDRF, a team of Army were immediately pushed in the affected areas.
The inter-ministerial central team shows satisfaction on relief measures undertaken by the district administration during the floods. Later on the teams also visited the flood hit area Mehrajwalan, Kang Khurd, Gatta Mandi Kassu, Mandala Channa, and other villages where Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal detailed the central team about the devastation caused by floods.
MP raised the issue of need for widening and strengthening the Dhusi Bandh besides ensuring desilting under Giddarpindi railway bridge to prevent flooding in future. Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Secretary PWD Nilkanth Avhad, Divisional Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, ADCs Varinder Pal Singh Bajwa, Major Dr Amit Mahajan and SDMs.