Breaches flood Ambala, Kurukshetra; army called

CHANDIGARH - The army was requisitioned in Haryana’s Ambala and Kurukshetra districts after major breaches in rivers and canals led to flooding of vast areas, disrupting traffic and electricity supply.

Heavy rain led to water overflowing in the Ghaggar river and the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal, causing breaches. Ambala city and cantonment areas, some 45 km from here, were under three-four feet of water at many places, said Deputy Commissioner of Ambala S.P. Srow.

Traffic on the busy Ambala-Delhi National Highway 1 was affected and diverted towards Banur near Haryana’s border with Punjab.

Electricity supply was affected in nearly 350 villages in Ambala district as a number of sub-stations were submerged, district administration officials said, adding that pumps were being used to drain out rainwater.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda directed authorities to launch rescue operations in the affected areas, especially in Ambala and Kurukshetra.

Several places in Punjab and Haryana received heavy rainfall since Monday, inundating many areas. Roads and rail services were also badly hit.

Srow said there was a breach in river Tangri in Jadhpur sub-division in neighbouring Punjab and river Ghaggar was also posing a threat.

Pankaj Aggarwal, deputy commissioner of Kurukshetra, said the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal had breached near Jyotisar in the district and the low-lying areas of Shahbad town, 65 km from here.

Haryana Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said she was in constant touch with her Punjab counterpart S.C. Aggarwal to expedite relief operations.