Canal breach floods 200 houses
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Aug 31 — Nearly 200 houses in Narnaund town of Hansi sub-division of Hisar district were submerged in, following a breach in the Hisar major near Narnaund. The subdivisional Magistrate Hansi, Mr Vijaynder Kumar, said that the breach had already been plugged and the water, that had accumulated in the town was being drained out.

The government hospital and the tehsil headquarter building were also submerged. The water level is said to be about two feet. Mr Kumar said, the breach was apparently caused by the overflow of excess water in the canal.

Although, water had entered the houses in ward three, nine 10 and 11 but the worst hit was ward four. The entire ward was flooded and over 1200 residents had to move out of the locality. Besides, the office complex of the Electricity Department also came under water.

According to the SDM no loss of life has been reported. Although the people claimed that several houses had collapsed, Mr Kumar said there was no (male) such case reported to him. He also pointed out that there was no loss to the standing crop of paddy, as the breach had been caused near the town and the water got accumulated in the town itself. Moreover, there was not much danger to the paddy crop, which already stands in the water.

The authorities had put a 'relief cut' in the canal at Raithal and the extra water was diverted to the adjacent low-lying area without any damage to the crops. The farmers of the adjacent villages were registering 'relief cuts' as they feared, it might damage the standing paddy crop.

Although no loss of life has been reported, the water has caused much damage to the roads. Some of the houses which came under water might become uninhabitable as there will be the risk of their getting collapsed.

Mr Vijyander Kumar said, the breach in the canal had been completely plugged and the water level in the town was subsiding. The people who had moved out of their houses had started returning.

It took the officials 48 hours to plug the breach. Some officials also complained about the resistance by the farmers to put relief cuts. However, local people also helped the authorities in plugged the breach by putting sand bags.

The unexpected flood in the town caught officials and the local people unawares. One resident, Mr Ram Kumar said it had never happened in his lifetime. But it was a relief for the people that the breach was plugged. It was a 48-hour-long nightmare for them, he pointed out.

The officials ruled out sabotage and said, it was clear that the breach had been caused by the additional water pressure. The water at some places was already overflowing canal banks. This was said, to be due to the heavy rain in past few days in the higher level areas.

The authorities are yet to assess the exact damage caused by the sudden flood. No relief has been provided by the authorities so far.

30 feared dead in train-bus collision

JAIPUR, Aug 31 (UNI) — At least 30 persons, including five women and four children, were feared killed and 21 injured in a collision between a train and a mini-bus at an unmanned level crossing in Udaipur district today.

While 19 persons died on the spot, 11 succumbed on the way to the district hospital.

The Police said the mishap occurred at around 12.30 p.m. when the Badi Sadri-bound passenger train reached the level crossing near Kharoda on the Mavli-Badi Sadri section.

The ill-fated mini-bus was proceeding to Karavali from Mavli. The bus had 49 people of Rabari tribes on board.

A medical team and district administration and western railway officials have rushed to the accident site for rescue and relief work.

Separate teams of railway officials from Udaipur, Ajmer and Bombay have rushed to the scene. The district civil and police officials have also reached there.