Heavy rains: Badal directs irrigation deptt, DCs to gear up

In view of the heavy rains lashing various parts of Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Deputy Commissioners of the districts along the river Satluj, Ravi and Beas to be extra vigilant to prevent any loss of human life and cattle.
Due to heavy rains in various parts of the state this week, especially in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts there has been huge inflow of water in reservoirs of Pong, Bhakhra and Ranjit Sagar Dam besides several other parts across the state, an official spokesperson said here.
He said that Badal has directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the districts along the river Satluj, Ravi and Beas to be extra vigilant round-the-clock to prevent any loss of human life and cattle besides damage to the property.

The Chief Minister also asked the DCs to keep special medical and veterinary teams with abundant supply of medicine in position so that they could be pressed into service instantly in the water logged areas, as warranted by the circumstances.
The spokesperson said that the people in Ghaniye Ki Bet across river Ravi had been evacuated by administration to safer places last evening.
"Sufficient boats and other logistics were available with the district administration to cope up with any emergent situation arising out of incessant rain in the region.
Some portion of the advance bundh at Shahpur village on river Ravi in Ajnala Sub-Division of Amritsar district that was damaged has been effectively plugged by the district administration and irrigation department," he said.

A joint operation by the district administration, Army personnel, Border Security Force (BSF), Punjab Police and Irrigation department was in full swing to strengthen the embankment of advance bundh.