Fresh breach in Yamuna poses flood threat to Haryana

CHANDIGARH - Flood threat loomed large over several low-lying villages in Yamunanagar district of Haryana as a fresh breach of nearly 300 feet emerged on the embankment of the Yamuna river, an official said Thursday.

Besides the district administration officials, the army has also been requisitioned to plug the breach.

“Rescue work is on at war-footing and very soon we will plug the breach. Packed food and bottled water have been provided to the victims. Water has started receding from the affected villages,” Yamunanagar Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sanghwan said Wednesday.

“Our officials are making sure that no further erosion takes place near the embankment of the Yamuna. We have advised residents living in the low-lying villages to shift to safer locations. National highways and roads have suffered massive damage due to floods,” Sanghwan said.

Yamunanagar administration officials said that some crucial roads were blocked Thursday as they were inundated with flood water.

Over 200,000 cusecs of water was again released in the Yamuna from Hathinikund barrage Thursday morning.

“Today (Thursday) 206,424 cusecs of water has been released into Yamuna river from the Hathinikund barrage. We are expecting an increase in the inflow due to heavy rainfall in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh since Wednesday,” an official at the Hathinikund control room told IANS.

Breaking records of the last 32 years, the Yamuna saw a maximum discharge of 744,507 cusecs of water from the Hathinikund barrage in Haryana Monday. The previous record of discharge into the river was 709,000 cusecs, recorded Sep 3, 1978.

Rain water has accumulated in agricultural fields of 32 villages of Dadri area in Bhiwani district, 45 villages of Rohtak district and 52 villages of Jhajjar district, submerging over 75,000 acres of farm lands.

Besides, heavy rains are also expected to affect the smooth flow of railway traffic in the state.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and depending on the circumstances, we would change the routes to avoid any inconvenience to the passengers,” said G.M. Singh, railways commercial manager of Ambala division.