Yamuna water level crosses danger mark; alert sounded in Karnal, Yamunanagar

Flood control rooms set up in Yamunanagar, which receives state’s highest rainfall; Karnal farmers worried as paddy crop goes underwater

In the wake of a heavy rainfall in the northern parts of the state, the Yamunanagar administration has issued a warning in low-lying areas along the Yamuna in the district.

Yamuna river water level rose to danger mark in Karnal.(HT Photo)

Also, an alert has been sounded in nearly 12 low-lying villages along the Yamuna in Karnal district’s Indri block.

Officials said the Yamuna water level at the Hathinikund barrage has crossed the danger mark of 90,000 cusecs and reached 1.18 lakh cusecs by 5pm on Wednesday from Tuesday’s 37,000 cusecs.

They said the water level is likely to rise further as heavy rainfall of about 26 mm has been reported in Yamunanagar district and the meteorology department has predicted more rain in the next 24 hours.

After an emergency meeting, the administration has asked officials to monitor the situation round-the-clock, especially in Chhachhroli and Raduar blocks, as many parts of state received moderate to heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours.

It has also set up a flood control office in the mini-secretariat and at all blocks in the district besides launching a helpline number (01732-237801) for an immediate response.

The administration has issued warning asking people not to go to the river, canal and drains. District revenue officer Hari Om Bishnoi said the directions have been issued to all tehsildars and other officials to give regular reports about the situation and keep a close eye in low-lying areas.

“We have already issued instructions to residents of many villages as the water level is already above 1 lakh cusecs in the river. A control room has been set up to monitor the situation,” said Indri sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Manisha Sharma

KARNAL: PADDY CROP ON 100 ACRES SUBMERGED

About 100 acres of paddy crop has been submerged for the past 10 days at Singara and Balu villages of Karnal district. The affected farmers are making rounds to the district administration for assistance. “My five acres of standing crop is underwater since May 28 and the water level is increasing due to rain as the administration has failed to provide any help to pump out the water,“ said Hardeep Singh and Manjeet Singh, affected farmers. Waterlogging is also a major issue in several villages of Karnal, especially in Indri block.

ALMOST ALL DISTRICTS RECEIVE RAIN

Almost all districts of the state have received rain in the last 24 hours. Officials from the meteorology department said the highest rainfall of 25.8 mm was recorded in Yamunanagar district on Tuesday followed by Panipat (18.5mm), Ambala (18.4mm), Mewat (17.3mm), Jhajjar (13.6mm), Faridabad (13.3mm), Rewari (11.8mm), Rohtak (6.5 mm), Panchkula (6.2mm), Palwal (5.8 mm), Bhiwani (4.2mm), Gurugram (5mm), Kurukshetra (3mm) and Karnal (2.3 mm).