After two days of incessant rain, the threat of flood is looming over multiple districts of Punjab. While constant rain in Patiala and surrounding areas resulted in a breach in SYL submerging Chitkara University & other areas into water, a similar kind of incident was observed in Jalandhar's Phillaur where Punjab Police Academy was inundated with water. Seeing the threat of flood looming over Punjab, Indian Army was called in and a rescue operation was going on at Chitkara University, also Jawans were evacuating cars that were swallowed by the flooded water due to a breach in the Satluj River dam. At least 250 vehicles were submerged in water at PPA Phillaur. Notably, an Orange alert has been issued for East Malwa on Monday, while there is a yellow alert for Doaba, under which it will rain heavily in the coming few hours.
Furthermore, a rescue operation was started in the areas around Kiratpur Sahib with the help of NDRF. Reportedly, the DC of Ambala has instructed people not to use the Jalandhar-Panipat National Highway 44. It has been closed for movement near Ghaggar River in Ambala. At the same time, the rivers and canals in the state are flowing above the danger mark. Due to this, 15 to 20 villages situated around the Sutlej River have been evacuated. Holiday has been declared for schools in 2 cities of Jalandhar. Around 200 acres of crops have been submerged in water due to the breach of the canal wall in the area around Bandala in Jandiala Guru. Notably, there are multiple photos and videos have been surfacing. Going by this, it can be said that the condition of Zirakpur and Dera Bassi is alarming as multiple housing societies & roads are submerged in water.
Notably, to counter this, on the direction of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Chief Secretary Anurag Verma called a meeting of officers of all departments. While writing this report, Punjab Chief Secretary's meeting with the officers was underway as it started around 10 am in the morning. Not only higher officials, but Regional officers also connected through Video Conferences. Notably, Punjab's Chief Secretary in his order had stated that the officers of all the departments including police, power, administration, and agriculture must be present to address the flood threat and the state's preparedness to counter it.
Furthermore. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains on Monday declared statewide holidays for schools keeping students' safety in mind. Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains took to his Twitter handle and wrote this-
ਮਾਣਯੋਗ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸ. ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸੂਬੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਲਗਾਤਾਰ ਬਾਰਿਸ਼ ਕਾਰਨ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਦੇ ਮੱਦੇਨਜਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਤੋਂ ਸੂਬੇ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਸਰਕਾਰੀ/ਏਡਿਡ/ਮਾਨਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਈਵੇਟ ਸਕੂਲਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਿਤੀ 13 ਜੁਲਾਈ 2023 ਤੱਕ ਛੁੱਟੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਜਾਂਦੀਆਂ ਹਨ।
— Harjot Singh Bains (@harjotbains) July 10, 2023
Also, 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. Notably, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also took to his Twitter handle and appealed the people of the state to not panic in this situation and all possible help will be provided by the government.
ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਵਸਨੀਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੇਰੀ ਅਪੀਲ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕਿਸੇ ਕਿਸਮ ਦੀ ਘਬਰਾਹਟ ਚ ਨਾ ਆਉਣ ..ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਹਰ ਛੋਟੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਕੋਨੇ ਕੋਨੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਪਲ ਪਲ ਦੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਲੈ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ..ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਆਫ਼ਤ ਹੈ ਮਿਲਜੁਲ ਕੇ ਇਸਦਾ ਸਾਹਮਣਾ ਕਰਾਂਗੇ..ਸਰਕਾਰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਹੈ ਹਰ ਸੰਭਵ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ..
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) July 10, 2023
Heavy rainfall to hit THESE districts of Punjab-
As per information received from the Meteorological Department heavy rain is expected in Sangrur, Dhuri, Malerkotla, Samana, Patiala, Nabha, Rajpura, Samrala, Rupnagar, Balachaur, Ludhiana West, Phillaur, Phagwara, Nawanshahr, Anandpur Sahib, Garhshankar, Nangal, Hoshiarpur. Along with this, there is a possibility of strong winds. Rain may also occur in Jalandhar, Dhuri, Malerkotla, Samana, Nabha, Ludhiana East, Phillaur, Phagwara, Jalandhar-1, Nawanshahr, Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur. The Meteorological Department has not issued any alert for today in Majha and West Malwa. It was a sunny morning in the border areas of Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Malwa.