Punjab Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar today took stock of the relief work carried out on a war footing to fill the breach of the Dhussi Bundh (embankment) near village Gharrum in district Tarn Taran.
Laljit Singh Bhullar, who was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Tarn Taran Ms. Baldeep Kaur, stated that the district administration with necessary machinery and support of local residents and social and religious organizations, has commenced the work on a war footing to fill the breach of the Dhussi Bundh.
He said that due to the earlier floods in the river Sutlej, work was already going on for the past one month to strengthen the Dhussi bundh, but with the heavy rains in the hills again, the water level in the Satluj River had risen significantly, leading to the weakening of the embankment.
He added that now the water level has reduced in the river and efforts are ongoing to fill the breach. Apart from this, sensitive areas of the embankment are also being reinforced.He said that to ensure 24/7 relief operations, teams from the police, revenue and drainage departments and civil authorities have been set up and work to fill the breach from both the ends, has been started.
Local residents and organizations are also assisting in filling more than 2 lakh sandbags to fill the breach.S. Bhullar said that for the convenience of the flood-affected people, seven relief camps have been set up in different parts of the district, where residents of affected areas can receive essential supplies like ration, medicines, tents, mosquito nets and other necessities.
He also mentioned that animals that were moved out of flood-affected areas have been kept safe and cared for in research centers of the Neeli Ravi buffalo at Harike and Dana Mandi Sabhra. These places have the capacity to house more than 400 animals and provide them with feed and shelter.
He urged the people stranded on roads to cooperate with the NDRF teams and reach safe places at the earliest. He said that the Punjab government had taken proactive measures right from the beginning to address the situation.
Deputy Commissioner Ms. Baldeep Kaur said that 7 relief centers have been set up in the government schools at Kot Budha, Dubli, Khemkaran, Sabhra, Valtoha, Talwandi Sobha Singh and Harike.
Earlier, the Cabinet Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar had met senior officials to assess the current situation in the Harike Rest House and discussed the situation with Deputy Commissioner Ms. Baldeep Kaur, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ms. Amaninder Kaur, SDM Khadoor Sahib Mr. Deepak Bhatiya, SDM Tarn Taran Mr. Rajneesh Arora, SDM Bhikhiwind Mr. Anil Gupta and officials from various departments.
S. Bhullar emphasized that the Punjab government had taken proactive steps to address the situation, including establishing seven relief centers for the convenience of affected residents, reinforcing embankments and providing essential supplies to those in need.