Flood situation in Haryana worsens (Hindu 10 September 2010)

Yamunanagar, Ambala districts worst affected
National Highways 73 and 73A still closed
Faridabad faces flood threat
CHANDIGARH: The flood situation in Haryana turned grim on Thursday with Yamunanagar and Ambala districts worst affected due to heavy rain in the region for the past two days.
Official sources said nearly 100 villages are flooded in Yamunanagar district as the Yamuna and seasonal rivers of Som Nadi and Pathrala are in spate and have been breached at several places.
They further said that flood water had entered 62 of these villages, including the inhabited areas, and at least 15 villages were completely cut off as the roads had been submerged in water. Agricultural land in the affected villages, particularly Khiljrabad, Khijri, Ledilada and Jalana, had suffered the maximum damage.
Flood water have also spilled and entered a few villages like Chougam, Hansu Majra, Garhi Birbal, Garhpur Tapu, Palsora, Halwana, Nabiyabad, Japti Chhapra, Sayed Chhapra, Nagli and Dera Sikkligarh.
The Jagadhri-Saharanpur National Highway-73 and the Jagadhri-Poanta Sahib National Highway-73A are still closed to traffic after some portions were damaged on Wednesday.
Yamunanagar Deputy Commissioner Ashok Sangwan claimed that the water inflow in the Yamuna had reduced considerably and nearly 1.70 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Hathni Kund Barrage.
Troops have been called out to help in the rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, Ambala Deputy Commissioner Samir Pal Saro has advised the people to avoid going near the Tangi and Markanda rivers as it could prove dangerous due to the rising level of water in these rivers.
Due to heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh, the Tangri and Markanda rivers have recorded a heavy inflow of water. Six persons who went near the riverbed to collect firewood got trapped in the heavy waters at Harda village on Wednesday. They had climbed the poplar trees in a bid to save themselves. Army jawans rescued them from drowning by showing exemplary courage and bravery, he added.
The district administration was maintaining a close vigil as water in these rivers had touched 50,000 cusecs on Wednesday night which was the highest level witnessed in the last 25 years, he said
The area between Kalpi and Markanda has become water-logged and the road between Saha and Jagadhri has been closed to vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, an official spokesman of the Irrigation Department said that the damage to the Tajewala Headworks would be reviewed after the floods recede.
In a related development, Faridabad district authorities sounded an alert about flood threat as water in the Yamuna released from Hathni Kund Barrage was likely to reach the district through the Okhla Barrage.