Flooding from a breach in the Sutlej river embankment in Ludhiana’s Sasrali has submerged farmland and threatens 15 nearby villages, prompting urgent rescue operations.
Chandigarh: A significant breach has occurred at the Sasrali embankment of the Sutlej River in Ludhiana district, leading to extensive flooding of farmland and posing a serious risk to approximately 15 surrounding villages in Ludhiana East.
The embankment, which local residents and authorities had been reinforcing for several days with sandbags and stones, failed on Thursday under the immense pressure of rising waters. The breach has already inundated large areas of farmland in Sasrali Colony, causing widespread panic as the river continues to swell.
The Ludhiana district administration has issued an alert, advising residents in low-lying areas to remain vigilant. Officials acknowledged that, despite ongoing efforts to fortify the embankment, the threat of further flooding remains significant.
Villages identified as being at immediate risk include Sasrali, Boont, Rawat, Hawas, Seera, Boothgarh, Mangli Tanda, Dheri, Khwajake, Khasi Khurad, Mangli Kadar, Mattewara, Mangat, and Meharban.
In response to the emergency, the administration has established several rescue centers to assist affected residents. These centers are located at:
Rahon Road Gaunsgarh Satsang Bhawan, Chandigarh Road Mundian Satsang Bhawan, Tibba Road Satsang Bhawan, Kailash Nagar Satsang Bhawan, Radha Soami Centre near Sasrali, Khasi Kalan Mandi, Khasi Kalan School, Bhukhri School, Mattewara School, and Mattewara Mandi.
Residents in need of assistance can reach the flood control room at 0161-2433100 or call the police helpline at 112. Emergency response teams are actively deployed on the ground, and further updates regarding rescue and relief measures are anticipated.
For nearly a week, villagers in Sasrali have endured sleepless nights, collaborating with the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local authorities to protect the embankment. AAP MLA and cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Mundian has been actively involved in these efforts, even carrying sandbags and stones to motivate the community, an act the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab described as “sewa” on social media.
Despite these concerted efforts, the force of the river ultimately overwhelmed the embankment. Local Congress leader Manveer Singh Dhaliwal reported that prior to the breach, nearly 100 acres of farmland in Sasrali and Boothgarh had already suffered damage. “Now with the breach, the destruction is far wider. Crops have been ruined, but thankfully, there has been no loss of life yet,” he stated.
Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain confirmed the breach and noted that strengthening and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing. “We had stocked one lakh sandbags and brought stone supplies from Ropar and Himachal Pradesh. Teams remain deployed at critical points, and we are monitoring the situation around the clock. Once the situation stabilizes, we will assess farmers’ losses and provide compensation,” he assured.
As the floodwaters continue to rise, Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring visited Sasrali to assess the situation and called for immediate relief for affected families.
With the Sutlej River showing no signs of calming, villagers are increasingly anxious, prompting many to relocate to safer areas. Authorities are also preparing for the possibility of additional water being released from the Bhakra dam, which could exacerbate the flooding.
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