Bathinda, July 11 —A breach in a distributary of the Sirhind Canal early Friday morning left nearly 200 homes submerged in the Sai Nagar locality of Bathinda, forcing frantic evacuation efforts and triggering concerns of a possible disease outbreak.
Officials said the 60-foot breach occurred in a low-lying stretch near Ganpati Enclave along Dabwali Road. Residents woke up to waist- to chest-deep water entering homes, with several people rescued using tractor-trolleys.
“The canal distributary is an old structure, and the embankment gave way due to the sudden increase in water flow from upstream areas, which have seen heavy rainfall this week,” said Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray.
Parray confirmed that the water supply to the canal was stopped as an emergency measure, bringing the level down by nearly a foot by noon. “The irrigation department is working to plug the breach, and we expect to complete repairs within three days,” he added.
Locals described scenes of chaos and loss. “The entire area was under water. In many parts, the water rose up to six feet. People had no time to prepare,” said Gurjit Singh, a resident of the flooded locality.
A woman who runs a daily needs store in Sai Nagar said she had no time to save her belongings. “The current was so strong that it didn’t give us a chance to move anything. My shop is completely under water.”
Daljit Singh, another resident, voiced fears of a health emergency. “This water will stagnate and lead to infections. We are worried about diseases now.”
Responding to the crisis, the district administration has sent cooked meals and drinking water to affected residents. “Dewatering has begun and the Health Department will start fogging operations soon to contain the risk of disease outbreak,” said the DC.
Emergency teams from the irrigation and municipal departments remain on-site, while civic officials are mapping damage and monitoring for further embankment stress along the canal.
