01092025-JTR-01.qxd 8/31/2025 10:42 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune DC REVIEWS FLOOD SITUATION IN GIDDERPINDI, PHILLAUR REPAIR ROADS, CLEAN DRAINS & ENSURE MONSOON READINESS BASRA MAKES A COMEBACK WITH FAMILY DRAMA MEHAR DC visits the areas along the Sutlej River to assess the situation as water levels continue to rise. P2 Upgrade sewerage network to handle downpours and desilt drains regularly before rains. P3 Geeta Basra, 41-year-old artiste, credits cricketer-turned-politician husband Harbhajan Singh for the comeback.P4 » » » FORECAST RAINY MAX 27°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.52 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:03 AM MONDAY | 1 SEPTEMBER 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF 2 WOMEN BOOKED FOR TRESPASS Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked four persons, including two women, on the charge of criminal trespass. The accused have been identified as Daljit Kaur of Seechewal village, Buta Singh of Hundal Dhadda village in Nakodar, his wife Nidar Kaur and son Gurpreet Singh. Tara Singh, a resident of Seechewal village, complained to the police that his sister-in-law Daljit Kaur, living in Canada, has been staying in the village for the last nine months and is not allowing him to cultivate his land. The complainant said on August 20, his sister-in-law, with other accomplices, ploughed his millet crop and threatened him with dire consequences and the accused had set afire his motor room on July 29 and damaged the motor starter and other items. He said the case of the land was decided in his favour by a court. OC FOUR 'DRUG ADDICTS' HELD Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested two drug addicts on the charge of consuming heroin. The accused has been identified as Raman Deep Singh and Jaspal Singh, residents of Raunta village. A case has been registered under Sections 27/ 61/ 85 of the NDPS Act against the accused. The Bilga police arrested two drug addicts, Harmindar Singh and Mandeep Singh, for consuming heroin. OC Overflowing Chitti Bein poses flood threat to Cantt villages MLA Pargat Singh meets villagers, reviews situation, alerts admn officials Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 31 Several good Samaritans have come to the aid of the flood-affected villagers. Capitol Hospital, Jalandhar, organised a flood relief medical camp at Baupur mand of Sultanpur Lodhi, providing essential healthcare services to families affected by the recent floods. The medical camp offered free health check-ups, consultations, and distribution of essential medicines, ensuring timely medical support to those in urgent need. The Capitol Hospital medical team consisting of doctors, nurses, and support staff, was on-site to deliver quality care and guidance to patients. The initiative was attended by SDMs of Kapurthala and Sultanpur Lodhi and AAP MP Balbir Seechewal. Dr Harnoor Singh Pruthi, Director Medical, stated, “We are committed to reaching out to all affected areas and providing timely medical assistance wherever needed.” Dr CS Pruthi, Chairman, Will soon visit flood-hit areas Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 31 The continuous rain and overflowing Chitti Bein have posed a flood threat in several parts of Jalandhar Cantt villages. Water has entered fields in a few villages, putting hundreds of acres of crops at risk. Sensing the looming danger, AICC secretary and MLA Pargat Singh visited the affected areas of the constituency on Sunday afternoon. During the visit, he alerted senior district administration officials on the phone, urging them to take preventive measures and closely monitor the situation. After inspecting floodaffected villages, including Kukkad Pind, Chachowal, Jagraal, and Bajhua, Pargat said water flowing from the Hoshiarpur side towards Phagwara had caused the Chitti Bein to overflow, flooding adjoining farmland. He warned of grave threat if the situation worsens overnight. He also criticised the government and district administration for failing to carry out timely cleaning and desilting of the Chitti Bein. At the Jagraal-Bajhua bridge, Singh MLA Pargat Singh takes stock of flood situation in a village in Jalandhar Cantt on Sunday. NO FLOOD THREAT, CLAIMS DC DC Himanshu Aggarwal on Sunday appealed to the public not to panic over reports of floods in Jalandhar Cantt. Aggarwal said the administration was keeping a close watch on the situation, which was under control. Some low-lying areas had witnessed waterlogging due to raised water levels in the Chitti Bein. It was also due to overnight rain, which too was being perceived as floodwater. He said a district-level flood control room had also been set up at helpline number 01812224417 and state-level control room number 0181-2240064 is also operational where citizens can seek information or assistance. observed that water was flowing over the bridge and cracks had already developed, posing a risk of collapse. Helps pour in for flood-hit villagers Tribune News Service Governor dials Seechewal to get flood updates added, “We will continue to organise more medical camps based on the requirements of the local communities, ensuring healthcare is accessible to everyone during times of crisis.” JPGA to adopt village While the flood-ravaged residents of Sultanpur Lodhi have spoken that the real aid will be needed after the water subsides from villages, the Jalandhar Potato Growers Association (JPGA) today declared that it will adopt a flood-hit village and provide aid to villagers. The declaration was made ahead of the 10th JPGA Kisan Mela to be held at Kartarpur on September 5 and 6. During a meeting of the JPGA Executive Committee at Dana Mandi, Kartarpur, regarding preparations for the upcoming Kisan Mela, vicepresident Ashwinderpal Singh expressed concern over the heavy damage caused to villages due to the floods. With the consensus of the organisation, president Gurraj Singh Nijjar said preparations had already begun to tackle the grim scenario that will follow the floods. The JPGA announced to adopt one of the flood-affected vil- lages and provide 50 tractors, diesel, seeds, and fertilisers to help restore farmland damaged by flood deposits. JPGA secretary Pritpal Singh Dhillon announced that 60 executive members of the organisation will contribute Rs 21,000 each from their earnings to the JPGA Rehabilitation Fund. Additionally, 3,500 Bengal members, associated with the JPGA, will also contribute Rs 5,000 each towards the fund. The association will also supply potatoes to the NGOs that want to hold community kitchens (langars). Villagers along with their belongings shift to a safer place in Kapurthala. PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH The connectivity between the two villages is threatened and several kutcha houses and rural roads have been damaged by waterlogging. Pargat cautioned that while Punjab’s Majha and Malwa regions are already reeling under severe floods, if Doaba is also hit, the situation could become more dangerous than the 1988 floods. Speaking to local residents, Pargat reassured them of his support, appealed to people not to panic, and emphasised the need to remain vigilant. He also urged villagers to promptly inform him or the authorities in case of any emergency. Local leaders, including Baldev Singh Uddopur, Lambardar Kulwant Singh, Vikramjit Singh (Panchayat member, Jamsher), were present with the MP . Jalandhar, August 31 Governor Gulab Chand Kataria today expressed concern over the serious flood situation in the mand areas of Sultanpur Lodhi. The Governor spoke to Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal over the telephone to enquire about the condition of the flood-hit areas and voiced his concern over the worsening situation in Kapurthala. The Governor also thanked Seechewal for serving flood victims tirelessly since the very first day of the disaster. He also told Seechewal that he would soon come to meet the flood-affected people and review the grave situation. During the conversation, Seechewal apprised the Governor of the miserable conditions of the victims and discussed the urgent need for immediate relief and rehabilitation measures. Seechewal had also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that the floods be declared a national disaster. He had also written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, urging him to raise the matter strongly with the Centre. According to officials, the water level of the Beas today stood at 2.37 lakh cusecs. The rising water has now started posing a threat to the embankments. Despite continuous rainfall, Sant Seechewal and his volunteers continued to deliver cooked meals, tarpaulins and other relief materials to the flood-affected families in Sultanpur Lodhi, using boats. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also met the MP He distributed relief . material for the flood victims. Seechewal took the SGPC president by boat to the mand area settlements where the floods had caused widespread devastation. Chabbewal gives ~50L from MPLAD fund Our Correspondents Hoshiarpur/Kapurthala, August 31 After the swelling Beas has breached dhussi bundh in Mukerian and Kukran bundh in Chabbewal in Hoshiarpur, AAP MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh from the MPLAD fund for flood relief and restoration work in the district. The sudden release of excess waters accompanied by heavy rain have damaged small bundhs in Mukerian, Tanda, Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur and Hargobindpur for the past one week. There has been a heavy inflow of flood waters from the Chakki twice which has caused flooding in Mehtabpur, Motla, Haled and Janardhan villages of Mukerian. The MP has issued a cheque for Rs 50 lakh to DC, Hoshiarpur, Aashika Jain to assist in urgent rehabilitation efforts. A major portion of the allocation will be directed towards the strengthening of the dhussi bundh in Mukerian and Kukran bundh in Chabbewal, which have been severely People work to save the dhussi bundh in Passi Bet village. damaged during floods. Timely action saves bundh Passi Bet in Dasuya had also suffered partial damage. But with the active cooperation of the administration and villagers, the dam was made safe by taking timely action. AAP MLA from Dasuya Karambir Singh Kang thanked the Radha Swami Satsang Ghar, the Bhuri Wale Baba, social organisations, villagers and youths, who worked hard day and night and averted the potential danger. Heavy rain predicted Phagwara: After the discharge of water in the Beas reached 2.35 lakh cusecs this monring, DC Amit Kumar Panchal has been constantly urging the people living in the vulnerable areas to cooperate with evacuation measures. The Met Department has already sounded the red alert for heavy rainfall in Kapurthala district and the downpour since last night has further contributed to the swelling of the river. Teams from the Army and the State Disaster Response Force are on the ground, working round the clock to shift people to safer locations. ~10 lakh debt on him, Kapurthala farmer loses home second time to floods Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Rampur Gaura, August 31 “Roti khan nu vi ji nahi karda. Sialan tak kiddan sama kadhange. Doojeyan de ghar kinna chir ravange (We don’t feel like eating, how will we spend time until winters, how long can we stay at someone else’s house),” cries Gurmeet Kaur. The house of Gurmeet Kaur (65) and Bakhtaur Singh (68) became a place where several tragedies took place at once. The couple got just a few hours to put their entire household items onto two boats as the waters was threatening to damage their house on August 29. With a Rs 10 lakh debt on him, Bakhtaur’s house at Rampur Gaura village - home to 10 members and two dogs was damaged for the second time during the Sultanpur Lodhi floods this year. Its walls had also collapsed in the 2023 floods. Their plight echoes the pain of numerous other homes at Sultanpur Lodhi, Dhilwan and Bholath. Bakhtaur’s paddy crop across 8.5 acres has been deci- mated and his family scattered - housed at five different places. The Beas’ strong currents brought down the fodder shed, fodder mounds floated away, walls cracked and the family’s lone boat (kept for emergencies) broke. Grabbing rotis, cradled in their hands, Bakhtaur and Gurmeet emptied months of stored wheat, rice and grains into sacks as tears rolled down Gurmeet’s eyes. In a few hours, the couple loaded their belongings onto two little boats, leaving behind their iron drum, sewing machine, grandchildren’s computer. Aided by do-gooders Baupur resident Paramjit Singh and Saruwal resident Jathedar Babar Singh, the family packed grain sacks, a small refrigerator, inverter, batteries and sacks of cloth and left the home forever. Gurmeet wept uncontrollably with son Pargat as they bid goodbye to the house. Gurmeet said, “We didn’t get a single rupee in girdawari in 2023 either and the crop is ruined again now. Debts c m y b mount. My brother-in-law’s house has also fallen this year. One of my daughter-in-laws is pregnant and a son stays at Beri Sahib Gurdwara. Another daughter-in-law and son are at Kuduwal, children are elsewhere.” Bakhtaur, says, “Everything we had is lost. The house, the crops. I already had an over Rs 10 lakh debt on me. Our house is gone.” Bakhtaur Singh scrambles to load belongings on his boat in Kapurthala. PHOTO:MALKIAT SINGH.