Haryana: Flood fears mount in Sirsa villages as Ghaggar swells

The Sirsa district administration, however, asserted that the situation was under control

The water level of the Ghaggar river has risen in Sirsa district, raising fears of a potential flood in surrounding villages. According to a report by The Tribune, the river has swelled by nearly three feet in the past 24 hours. The situation has worsened due to backflow from Pehowa, while several drains are now overflowing.

Villagers said the water had entered homes, roofs were leaking, and tarpaulins were in short supply in the market, with some alleging black marketing. Structural cracks have also appeared in several houses, forcing families to evacuate.

The administration, however, asserted that the situation was under control. Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sharma said 24 Irrigation Department teams were deployed to monitor embankments round the clock, while senior officials, including SDMs and Tehsildars, were visiting vulnerable areas to review safety measures.

As per the report, walls of two houses in Nejadela-Mallewala and a government laboratory wall on Barnala Road collapsed due to heavy rains in the region.

The Sirsa-Dabwali stretch of the Delhi National Highway has also been damaged due to soil erosion near Mirpur bridge, raising safety concerns.

A breach in the Hisar-Ghaggar drain near Gudiakhera and Modiakhera on Wednesday morning flooded 15 acres of paddy fields, while the Mangala Ghaggar drain gave way at three points near Jamal on Tuesday night, causing more crop damage in the region.

Releasing a video, Congress district president and Darba sarpanch Santosh Beniwal accused the administration of negligence and threatened a protest if the matter was not addressed.

As per the report, the rainfall has already harmed cotton crops in the region, with farmers reporting yellowing leaves, drying plants and fears of poor yield.

The farmers have demanded a survey and government compensation, saying agriculture has become an unbearable loss from them. The DC has urged people to not panic and report any leaks or damage to local officials or the flood control room at 01666-248882.