Haryana CM visits flood-hit districts, irrigation minister blames Punjab for floods

CHANDIGARH - Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda visited the flood-affected districts of Sirsa and Fathehabad on Tuesday, a day after the state’s Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh Yadav blamed neighbouring Punjab for failing to seal breaches in the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, which he said had caused ravaging floods in his state.

Yadav said that breaches were caused in the tributary of River Ghaggar and its water was diverted into the SYL canal, which had a limited water-intake capacity.

“The water which gushed in SYL (Sutlej-Yamuna Link) happened because they breached a tributary of River Ghaggar and also because of which all the water came into our area. They released more than 8000 cusecs of water,” said Yadav.

He said floods were a natural calamity, but the breaches have led to massive destruction in the state.

At present, 65 villages in Haryana are overflowing with water, while around 25,000 acres of crops have been submerged in Fatehabad and Sirsa districts.

Monday’s heavy rainfall has created havoc in Panipat too. The city’s famous Kambal market has been flooded and water is flowing over the National Highway No. 1.

Ambala, Kurukshetra and Kaithal Districts are also in bad shape. (ANI)