PHAGWARA: The flood situation in Kapurthala district remained grim on Saturday as the water flow in the swollen Beas river rose further to 1.33 lakh cusecs, breaching embankments at several points and damaging the advance bundh. Standing paddy crops spread over nearly 30, 000 acres of land in the Sultanpur Lodhi area have been badly affected.
Heavy rainfall lashed Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi and Bholath since morning, adding to the distress of flood-hit farmers as the rainwater eventually drains into the Beas. Despite the downpour, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, accompanied by his followers and over a thousand farmers, worked tirelessly to strengthen weak spots at six locations in an effort to save the bundh from further erosion. JCB machines, tractor-trolleys and other equipment were pressed into service, with workers placing sandbags along the river to check the damage. The most critical repair work was underway in the villages of Ahlikalan, Karmuwala Pattan and Ahlikhurd in the Mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi.
Meanwhile, officials confirmed that more than 70, 000 cusecs of water was released from the Pong Dam into the swollen Beas. Drainage Department S.E. Amarinder Singh Pandher said the situation in the worst-affected villages could improve in the coming days, provided rainfall stops in the mountainous regions, allowing water levels to gradually recede.