The situation started becoming serious yesterday following discharge of water from the Bibipur Lake from where water in excess of 810.3 feet is released into the Ghaggar through the Sagar Para Drain which gets connected to Ghaggar. Water level in the Ghaggar crossed the danger mark of 750 feet last night and this morning it was recorded at 750.9 feet. The level had gone up to 751.5 feet at 5.30 p.m.

The Deputy Commissioners of Patiala and Sangrur along with the Drainage Department officials and the police officials visited the affected villages today to take stock of the situation and also to build up confidence among the villagers of the area.

Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Anirudh Tiwari told ENS that eight villages in his district had been affected and flood water had entered the fields of Hotipur, Nawan Gaon, Bushaira, Bangan, Chandoo, Mandvi, Bhunder, Bhaini and Surjan Bhaini. The water level in the fields was about one feet. These villages were affected today.

Tiwari said that there was no cause for panic and the situation was being reviewed from time to time. He said there had been no loss of life or property nor had any any loss of cattle head been reported so far. However, part of the Mandvi Moonak link road was under water at certain places but the movement of traffic was normal. He said he, along with the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Moonak M.S. Narang, had visited the area yesterday and today and assured the people of all help.

The five villages of Patiala district which have been affected by the flood in the Ghaggar include Guru Nanak Pura, Kangthala, Taipur, Sagra and Matauli where standing crops were under about one feet of water. Deputy Commissioner Vishwajit Khanna said that now the water level was stable and it was hoped that it may recede in the next 24 hours as no fresh rains had been reported in the catchment areas.

Sub Divisional Magistrate of Samana Kuldip Singh had been camping at Khanauri and keeping a vigil at the situation.

Khanna said that this time the floods were less severe than the floods in the same area in July this year.

Jasbir Singh, Superintending Engineer, Drainage Circle, who extensively toured the affected villages today, told ENS that this was the second flood in the area as the Ghaggar had flooded these villages in mid July.

He said that no village population had been affected by the floods in the Ghaggar and hoped that the water may start receding tonight if there was no rain in the catchment areas. The standing crop of paddy which is nearing maturity can withstand standing water for about 72 hours, he said.

According to experts, although there are two acquaducts provided for safe disposal of Ghaggar water across the Bhakra Main Line Canal (BMI) at RD 460 and at RD 455, the entire thrust is on RD 460 because the level of RD 455 is higher. The flow of water is also affected on account of construction of a bandh in Sangrur district from Khanauri onwards.

Sangrur DC said that this bandh was crucial for the safety of Moonak town (with a population of about 45,000) and 26 villages of Sangrur district. He said that if this bandh was removed, the flood waters from Ghaggar would immediately hit Moonak town and these villages.

Harvinder Lal Sharma adds from sangrur: The Sirhind Choe flowing near Ghabdan Kothi on Sangrur-Patiala road, about 15 km from here, has created havoc for the residents of about a dozen villages. The water in the choe is flowing at a level of 10 feet and this has rung alarming bells in the area. If it crosses the 10.5 feet mark, it will start overflowing. To top it all, the bushes and trees in the choe are causing hindrance in its smooth flowing.

Hoshairpur: Bissochak village in Dasuya sub-division was inundated following two breaches in Kandi canal between Chak Dhala and Bissochak late last night, says a UNI report.

While a 70-feet wide breach occurred near canal RD-20335, a 30-feet breach took place about half a km away, sources said. The village is at present submerged in five feet water, they added.

Kharar: Following heavy and continuous rain in this area since Monday, The telecom link of Kharar with other parts of the country and abroad has been snapping time and again, causing great trouble to the residents. Situation in several villages, especially Dharak Khurd, Kharak Kalan, Lalewal, Majat, Padiala, Lubangarh, Majri, Khizrabad, Siyalaba, Jhanjeri, Jalote, Badali, Mauli Baidwan, Solkhian and Bela Rampur is alarming with the people facing knee-deep water. The administration has declared these areas as sensitive. Some link roads are cracking up up at various places, causing traffic snarls. Villagers are facing great difficulties as normal life has been thrown out of gear.

Also, two to three feet deep water was seen flowing at various points on the main highway near Balongi, Desumajra, Mundi Kharar, Kharar, Padiala, Kurali and Morinda following which, several vehicles were stalled.