Punjab on alert: Minister Goyal orders round-the-clock monitoring of river embankments

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The North News

Chandigarh, August 19

Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday chaired a high-level video conference to review the flood situation across several districts of the state. Deputy Commissioners from Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Fazilka joined the meeting, along with senior officials of the Drainage Department, Principal Secretary Krishan Kumar and Chief Engineer (Drainage) Hardeep Singh Mendiratta.

Goyal directed district authorities to maintain round-the-clock vigilance along embankments, warning that continuous rainfall in Himachal Pradesh’s upper catchment areas had pushed up water levels in Punjab’s rivers. He instructed Deputy Commissioners to ensure strict rosters for monitoring duties, backed by robust field teams deployed at vulnerable stretches. Sector-wise divisions of flood-prone areas, he said, would enable faster responses and timely interventions.

The minister also called for relief camps to be set up with adequate shelter, food and medical care for those displaced by rising waters. He stressed the need for continuous assessment of the situation and better coordination between district administrations and the Water Resources Department.