Fatehabad, July 10
Over 10,000 acres falling under 12 villages in Jakhal block of Fatehabad have been submerged under 5 to 6 ft water with the Rangoi nullah flowing above its capacity and threatening to inundate many more villages in the area.

Flood waters have entered fields in Puranmajra, Meond Kalan, Meond Khurd, Chandpura, Nadel, Mamupur, Himmatpura, Shankarpura, Rattatheh, Kasampur, Udaipur and Kudni villages, while many more nearby villages face an immediate threat of floods.

The flow of water at Chandpura crossed 18,500 cusecs today.

Although the authorities claimed that residential areas of these villages had not been affected by floods, villagers were seen evacuating from Puranmajra village, where the streets of residential areas have also been flooded.

Three migrant labourers from Bihar were stranded in the fields of their landowner Inderjit Singh, when water started entering last evening.

The labourers - Santosh Kumar, Parmod Kumar and Kalu Ram - were found sitting on the “rooftop of a tube well” in Kasampur, where they spent the night and were rescued in a motorboat at about 3 pm by the authorities today.

The flood waters, according to the authorities, have come from a spillway on the Ghaggar near Khanauri and entered Haryana from Puranmajra village situated near Moonak town of Punjab.

The Rangoi nullah that originates from the Ghaggar between Meond and Mamupur and again culminates in the river at Kanwalgarh has sent shivers down the spine of the authorities as well as residents of villages falling along its about 50-km stretch.

Rangoi has a capacity of 7,000 cusecs and over 10,000 cusecs water has already been flowing in it since last evening.

Villagers have been working round the clock by strengthening the banks of Rangoi, but holes created by rats and mice are the main cause of worry for them.

Haryana Agriculture Minister Paramvir Singh, who represents these villages falling under the Tohana Assembly seat, visited the villages to review the rescue operations. The rodents have made holes in such a manner that these are seen piercing through the 30 to 40-ft-strong banks.

Deputy Commissioner OP Sheoran said over 2,000 bags of sand had been distributed in these villages for strengthening the banks. “We have constituted village committees comprising the sarpanch, the panchayat secretary, the nambardar and the patwari in these villages and certain financial powers have also been given for local purchases, if needed for the purpose of flood-control measures,” he added.

The authorities hope of some respite in the floods as the flow at Guhla came down to 52,000 cusecs today from 59,000 cusecs yesterday.

Kaithal, July 10
Jagga Ram’s family and his relatives (40 persons in all) have been putting up on the rooftop of his house in Kharkan Dera on the outskirts of Kharkan village in Guhla subdivision of Kaithal district for the past two days. Flash floods caused by the rising waters of the Ghaggar have forced them and many such others to make temporary arrangements on rooftops for stay.

Jagga Ram narrated the ordeal being faced by the family to The Tribune team, which used an Army boat to reach these flood-hit families today.

He said initially they became panicky but decided against leaving the place to ensure the safety of their house and belongings.

He said they were satisfied with the help extended to them by the administration through the Army, which had taken charge of relief and rescue operations. The relief team provided them food and drinking water. A doctor had also visited them. Guhla villages adjoining the Ghaggar are the worst affected by the floods.

Meanwhile, a team of the Army, comprising hundreds of jawans under the command of Col AS Rathore and Col Mukesh Sharma are working round the clock to plug the breach in the Hansi-Butana canal, 1 km downstream of Keorak village. The Army is being assisted by around 300 labourers. SDM Hawa Singh and other officials of the PWD and Irrigation departments, besides Anil Kumar, Commissioner, Ambala Division, reached here today.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, PWD Minister, was camping in the area to monitor the situation. Deputy Commissioner Amneet P Kumar said the breach in the canal would be plugged by tomorrow morning.

Sirsa, July 10
A youth from the dominant Jat community of Karamgarh village in this district, who married a Dalit girl against the wishes of his family, has alleged that the local police has withdrawn the protection provided to them on court orders, by coercion.

The couple, Surender Kumar and Sharda, approached SP Satinder Kumar Gupta yesterday and alleged that the SHO of the Baragua police station made them sign blank papers and withdrew the protection provided to them two months ago.

SHO Ram Kishan has, however, denied the allegations and maintained that the couple themselves returned the protection.

He alleged that Surender had a dispute with his brother Kulwant, who had lodged a complaint against him and added that the boy was unnecessarily dragging the police in his dispute with his brother.

Surender, a fatherless youth, had married Sharda, a Dalit girl of his own village, on April 8, 2010, in a temple against the wishes of his family.

The couple approached the court for protection on April 15 alleging death threat from his brother Kulwant and uncle Moman Ram, who, he alleged, had shown them the door.

The Baragura police station provided security to the couple after orders of a local court in this regard.

The couple alleged in their complaint to the SP that the local police was hand in glove with Surender’s family and had withdrawn their security by forcing him to sign blank papers. Fearing threat to their lives, the couple sought security for them.

Karnal, July 10
The police resorted to mild canecharge to disperse supporters of rival candidates, who clashed over casting of bogus votes in Kamalpur Rodan village while stray incidents of assault and EVMs’ damage marred the second phase of the panchayat elections in Karnal district today. As many as 217 panchayats in Nilokheri, Indri and Karnal blocks had gone to the polls in the second phase while elections were held for 155 panchayats in the first phase on July 6.

The supporters of rival candidates clashed over casting of bogus votes and when the police intervened, they pelted them with stones. The police resorted to mild canecharge to disperse the clashing groups and the polling was resumed.

In Shekhpur Sohana village, residents blocked the Meerut road to protest against the alleged fault in EVMs. They maintained that the button had to be pressed twice and they were not sure whether one vote had been cast or two and suspected that the voting was not fair.

In booth No 148 of Taperio village, Birjinder, who was elected panch unopposed, was beaten up by some people when he tried to help an old woman to cast her vote. He was an agent of some candidates and the supporters of other candidate objected to it.

In booth No 92 in Kherwa village, miscreants broke an EVM after rumours spread about the victory of one candidate even before the result was declared. The supporters of the losing candidate are suspected to have broken the EVM and returning officer Wazir Singh lodged a complaint with the police.

Some people mixed some intoxicant in cold drinks and served in Ramana Ramani village and several people complained of drowsiness and nausea. Meanwhile, 85 per cent polling was recorded from Nilokheri, 76 per cent from Karnal and 79 per cent from Indri.

Yamunanagar: A total 85 per cent electorate cast votes in the panchayat elections held in three blocks of the district - Jagadhri, Mushtafabad and Radaur - here today.

Two persons at different polling booths made an attempt to cast fake votes. A man was arrested for casting a fake vote at Radauri village, while in Bhamboli polling booth, one person was caught by the villagers when he made an attempt to cast a fake vote. However, he later managed to flee.

HISAR: Barring a few incidents in three villages, the final phase of the panchayat elections passed off peacefully on Saturday. Officials said there were “minor incidents” in Ladwa, Khokha and Satrod villages which did not disrupt the polling process. Around 75 per cent polling was reported in the four blocks. — TNS