Flood situation still grim in Punjab, Haryana

Over 30 breaches in Ghaggar river have flooded over 200 villages in six districts of Punjab and claimed the lives of 15 persons, according to an official spokesperson here.

The worst affected districts include Patiala, where 150 villages have been marooned by flood waters, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has sanctioned Rs 28 crore to provide immediate relief to the flood victims.

In neighbouring Haryana, breaches in the SYL and Hansi-Buttana canals have flooded three districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra and Kaithal. Several villages have been marooned in the state.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi called up Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday and enquired about the prevailing situation of natural calamity in the state and stressed for providing immediate relief measures to the flood-affected people.
She has also expressed concern over the natural calamity, a spokesman of the Haryana government said here.

Several trains passing through Haryana have either been diverted or cancelled. Many state highways have been breached causing chaos in the movement of vehicular traffic.
According to reports, over one lakh acres of agriculture land in 200 villages of Kurukshetra district has been inundated by flood waters. Preliminary losses to crops have been estimated at over Rs 400 crore in the state.