Page 37 - Punjab

Advisory issued in Gurdaspur after water released in Punjab's Ujh river

The district administration in Punjab's Gurdaspur on Wednesday issued an advisory, asking people living near the Ravi river to remain vigilant after 2.60 lakh cusecs water was released in Ujh river. The Ujh river in Jammu, after crossing Pathankot, merges into Ravi river in Makora Patan in Gurdaspur district. Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said 2.60 lakh cusecs water was released in Ujh river due to heavy rains in hilly areas. The administration has also evacuated people living near low-lying areas and on the banks of Ravi river, he said, adding a holiday was also declared in some schools. Aggarwal said the district administration is fully prepared to deal with any situation. Any information about flood-like situation can be given on the toll-free number 1800-180-1852 of the control room of the district administration, he said. Several districts of Punjab and Haryana were battered by the recent heavy downpour that has left normal life paralysed and flooded vast t

Over Rs 27 cr released for repair of flood-affected govt schools in Punjab

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains Monday released a grant of Rs 27.77 crore to repair the flood-hit government schools in the state. Each school will receive an amount ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000, said an official release. Mann said Rs 20 crore has been allocated for primary schools and Rs 7.77 crore for secondary schools. With this amount, school heads and management committees will undertake maintenance, cleanliness, painting and other necessary repairs in the schools. A special survey is being conducted regarding damages caused by floods in government schools of the state, which will help in allocating funds according to the needs of the affected schools for their renovation and maintenance, he said. Several districts of Punjab and Haryana were battered by heavy downpour last week that has left normal life paralysed and flooded vast tracts of residential and agricultural land. Though the floodwaters have receded in many areas of Punjab and Haryana, authoritie

Fire breaks out at plastic factory in Punjab's Ludhiana, no casualty

On receiving information, around six to seven fire tenders rushed to the spot and the situation was brought under control, officials said

Rain fury: At least 55 killed in Punjab, Haryana; relief work underway

Floodwaters have started receding from several places in Punjab and Haryana, battered by heavy downpour earlier this week, even as relief works were underway in flood-hit areas of both states on Saturday. With 14 districts in Punjab and 13 in Haryana hit by the recent downpour, at least 55 people have died in rain-related incidents in both states. A total of 29 people died in rain-related incidents in Punjab while the death toll in Haryana stands at 26, according to official data. Over 25,000 people have been evacuated to safe places from waterlogged localities in various flood-hit districts of Punjab and more than 5,300 in Haryana. The flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana's Yamunanagar was 53,370 cusecs at 6 pm and 54,619 cusecs at 8 pm. Meanwhile, two breaches occurred along the Ghaggar river in Punjab's Mansa district on Saturday, following which many villages bordering Haryana stare at a flood threat. The first breach occurred in an embankment near the Chandpura dam

VAT on diesel rose by Rs 3/litre in Himachal, cheaper than Punjab: CM Sukhu

In a bid to enhance revenue, the Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday increased the value added tax (VAT) on diesel by Rs 3 per litre to Rs 10.40 per litre. VAT on diesel has been increased from 9.90 per cent to 13.9 per cent, an increase of Rs 3 per litre from Rs 7.40 to Rs 10.40 per litre, as per the notification issued by the State Excise and Taxation department. Justifying the increase, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said the previous BJP government had reduced the VAT by seven per cent on the eve of the last assembly polls held in November 2022 and the increase was imperative for mobilising resources along with other measures. He said the state has suffered huge losses due to heavy rains and resources have to be mobilized in this hour. The roads, water supply schemes and electricity have been restored temporarily and it would take almost a year to restore the damaged infrastructure. In spite of an increase in VAT, diesel is cheaper in the state as compare

Floodwaters recede at many places in Punjab, Haryana; relief work underway

Floodwaters have started receding in several places of Punjab and Haryana, battered by heavy downpour earlier this week, and relief work is underway in affected areas in both states, officials said on Saturday. With the threat of water and vector-borne diseases looming large in flood-affected areas, health department officials have been directed to take appropriate steps to prevent any such outbreak, they said. The officials also said that medical camps have been set up in flood-hit areas and medicines are being distributed to people. At least 39 people have died in rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana. According to official data, 19 people have died in rain-related incidents in Punjab while the death toll in Haryana stands at 20. Over 22,000 people have been moved to safety from waterlogged localities in various flood-hit districts of Punjab. In neighbouring Haryana, 4,495 people have been evacuated. Fourteen districts Patiala, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali, Jalandhar, Sangrur

Food packets being prepared for flood-affected people: Punjab Minister

Some areas in Punjab including in Patiala and Sangrur have witnessed flood-like situation due to heavy rainfall

Focus shifts to rescue efforts as rains abate in parts of north India

As the weather improved in parts of north India, which was pummelled by heavy rains for days, authorities on Wednesday worked on a war footing to rescue stranded tourists, restore vehicular traffic on arterial roads and prevent floodwaters from entering new areas. In Punjab and Haryana, at least 15 people have died in rain-related incidents, according to government data. As many as 2,000 tourists stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Kasol were evacuated and more than 300 tourist vehicles stuck in Lahaul following landslides and flash floods left for their respective destinations, the state government said. In Delhi, the Yamuna swelled to 207.55 metres on Wednesday, breaching its all-time high of 207.49 metres recorded in 1978, according to government agencies. Delhi has recorded a rapid increase in the Yamuna water level over the last three days. It shot up from 203.14 metres at 11 am on Sunday to 205.4 metres at 5 pm on Monday, breaching the danger mark of 205.33 metres 18 hours earlier

Rain havoc: 10,000 people shift from waterlogged areas in Punjab in 3 days

About 10,000 people have been shifted to safer places from their water-logged localities in Punjab over the past three days, authorities said on Wednesday as they focused on relief work. According to government data, the death toll due to rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana is 18. Seven of the deaths took place in Haryana. In Punjab, nearly 10,000 people have so far been evacuated in Patiala, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali, SBS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, they said. Several places in neighbouring Haryana too remained flooded and Chief Minister Manohal Lal Khattar was expected to visit worst-hit Ambala district to take stock of the situation. The weather remained clear at most places in the region for the second day on Wednesday after three days of incessant rains. In a tweet, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said he is taking regular updates on the rain situation. "All the dams are safe and well below the danger mark. Our priority is to provide all kinds of

Rain havoc: Relief measures going on war footing in Punjab and Haryana

Relief measures are going on a war footing in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday as several parts of the states remained flooded following incessant rains in the past three days. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will visit the worst-hit Ambala district on Wednesday to take stock of the situation, officials said. In Punjab, nearly 10,000 people have so far been evacuated in Patiala, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali, SBS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, they said. The weather remained clear at most places for the second day in the region on Wednesday after three days of incessant rains. According to government data, the death toll due to rain-related incidents in the two states is 15 which include seven deaths in Haryana. The heavy rainfall has left behind a trail of destruction with properties worth crores obliterated and farmlands flooded. Relief measures are going on a war footing in the affected areas of the two states, officials said. Haryana's Deputy Chief Ministe

Weather clears in Punjab, Haryana, authorities step up relief efforts

The rain ebbed on Tuesday after three days of incessant downpour, which left behind a trail of destruction in several parts of Punjab and Haryana where properties worth crores were damaged and nine lives lost. The governments in both states have stepped up efforts to provide relief to affected people even as they scramble to conduct rescue operations. On Tuesday morning, the weather was clear at most places in the region which brought relief to the people, after the incessant downpour inundated homes and caused extensive damage to crops and vegetables in many districts. Officials said relief shelters have been set up in the affected districts in the two states, including Rupnagar, Patiala, Mohali, Ambala and Panchkula. Chief ministers of the two states are closely monitoring the situation, they said. In the worst-hit Rupnagar district of Punjab, several people joined hands with the administration to extend a helping hand to those in need. "It is the indomitable spirit of Punjabis

Situation grim in Patiala, floodwaters enter Rajpura thermal power plant

Punjab's Patiala district was reeling under a flood-like situation following heavy monsoon rainfall, with authorities seeking the Army's assistance to combat the escalating crisis, officials said on Monday. Floodwaters entered the premises of the Rajpura Thermal Power Plant here, leading to the shutdown of one of its 700 MW units, they said. Authorities have also deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams for relief and rescue work as the district grapples with rising water levels. The Army's assistance was sought by the Patiala district administration after water overflowed from the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in Rajpura town following a breach, the officials said. Patiala Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said floodwaters breached the premises of a private hospital in Rajpura on Sunday, necessitating the rescue and relocation of patients to other hospitals. Also, as many as 800 students from a private university in

Punjabi University Patiala postpones July 10 exams due to heavy rains

Punjabi University Patiala postponed all the examinations scheduled to take place on July 10 due to a red alert in the state. The administration will upload the revised date sheet soon

Rains continue to lash Punjab, Haryana; Army assistance sought in Patiala

Rains battered parts of Punjab and Haryana for the third consecutive day on Monday with authorities working round the clock to reach out to people in the worst-hit places in hours of crisis. According to the meteorological department, it has been raining in many parts of Punjab and Haryana since morning. In view of the prevailing situation caused due to incessant rains, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled all his pre-scheduled programmes for the day and summoned an emergency meeting of senior officials of various departments, including Home, Disaster Management and Urban Local Bodies, officials said. Khattar will also be holding a meeting with deputy commissioners later in the day through video-conferencing, they said. Authorities have already ordered the closure of schools in some affected areas in Punjab and Haryana. As torrential rains battered several parts of Punjab, Army assistance was sought by the Patiala district administration after water overflowed from

Destruction due to rains: Shah assures assistance to Punjab, Himachal CMs

Incessant overnight rain turned many low-lying areas in Punjab into a horror story, with severe waterlogging and traffic snarls

AAP launches Bijli Andolan in Haryana; Kejriwal target BJP over power cuts

The AAP on Sunday launched "Bijli Andolan" in Haryana from Panchkula, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal targeting the ruling BJP over power cuts in the state and saying that free and uninterrupted electricity supply is possible "if the intent is clean". At the event, Kejriwal was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. During the "Bijli Andolan" (electricity campaign), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and leaders will visit villages and towns and apprise people about "costly power" and regular outages and tell them that free and round-the-clock electricity is possible in Haryana too if the party is voted to power. "We are launching a Bijli Andolan... As you know, I have my roots in Haryana. Many people from the state have met me and told me about power problems. Some of them said that they have to face power cuts for six hours daily," Kejriwal said, addressing a gathering in Panchkula. Referring to a woman, who said she is a widow, among the audience, Kejriwal said

6 killed, 10 injured as gas explosion causes building collapse in Pakistan

At least six people were killed and 10 others injured on Sunday when a three-storey building collapsed due to a gas cylinder explosion in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials said. The three-storey hotel building located on the Grand Trunk Road in Punjab's Jhelum collapsed after the cylinder exploded in the kitchen, they said. Six people were confirmed dead while 10 injured were recovered so far and admitted to hospitals for treatment, Geo News reported, citing Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Samiullah Farooq. "(Rescue) efforts are underway and our teams are present here. There are reports that four to five people could be underneath the rubble, he said. He added that the rescue operation would continue till the whole site was cleared. Earlier, Dawn reported that the explosion took place at around 9:45 am Sunday, following which the rescue teams immediately responded and initiated rescue efforts. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Hassan Tariq said that all senior doctors and s

Stay alert, reach out to needy: CM Mann asks ministers as rain plays havoc

In the wake of flood-like situation due to incessant rains in several parts of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Sunday directed all the cabinet ministers, MLAs and officials to stay alert and reach out to people in need. According to an official statement issued here, Mann asked ministers, MLAs and officers to ensure that an elaborate flood protection mechanism is put in place to safeguard the life and property of people. He also advised them to visit their respective areas and ensure relief to the affected people at the earliest. Mann directed Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) to expedite the relief work in their respective districts to provide succour to the masses. The chief minister said alerts have been issued in low-lying areas, especially those around riverbanks, advising people not to venture out of their homes unless necessary. He said the state government is keeping a tab on the areas where a flood-like situation has emerg

BJP appoints new party presidents for Andhra, Telangana, Punjab, Jharkhand

The party made the announcement ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where the BJP-led NDA government is aiming to retain power for the third consecutive term

Press right button: Punjab CM Mann kickstarts AAP's Chhattisgarh campaign

The Punjab CM, along with party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was addressing a mega rally at Science College Ground in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur