PHAGWARA: Over one lakh cusecs of water flowing in the Beas River has inundated large parts of the Mand area in Punjab, submerging thousands of acres of standing crops and affecting farmers in more than 16 villages.
A breach of over 100 feet in the advance embankment near Baupur village has allowed floodwaters to sweep into the fields. Villages impacted include Baupur, Bhaini Bahadur, Kadar Bakhsh, Baupur Jadid, Baupur Kadim, Rampur Gaura, Sangra, Middhewal, and Pasan Kadim, among others.
Braving continuous drizzle, Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal toured the flood-hit villages on Monday morning along with his volunteers. Seechewal provided two boats to rescue stranded farmers and deliver food to them, while also dispatching an excavator to help strengthen the damaged embankment.
Farmers in the Mand area have urged Seechewal to press for the opening of the Harike Head gates to facilitate drainage of floodwaters. He assured them of full support, pledging to stand by the farming community and arranging green fodder for cattle in the affected villages.
According to Seechewal, paddy crops in the Baupur area have suffered extensive damage, with fields submerged under four to five feet of water. Volunteers are maintaining constant vigil over rising waters and remain on-site to assist the affected population.