Ambala on alert as Tangri river water level rises; minister Anil Vij reviews situation

AMBALA: Haryana’s minister for power, transport, and labour, Anil Vij, on Friday conducted an on-site inspection of the Tangri River in Ambala Cantonment after the river’s water level crossed the danger mark.

With nearly 30,000 cusecs of water entering the river early in the day, authorities were placed on high alert to ensure the safety of residents living in low-lying and riverside settlements. The river water entered some of the low lying colonies in Cantonment area along the river bank.During his visit, Vij directed the district administration to immediately issue public announcements, urging people living inside the river zone to shift to safer locations.

He also emphasized the need for inter-departmental coordination, particularly among the irrigation department, police, and municipal authorities, to manage the situation efficiently.Speaking to reporters, Anil Vij explained that heavy rainfall in the hills leads to sudden surges in the Tangri River’s water levels. “Today, over 30,000 cusecs of water flowed into the river, which is much higher than normal.

Before the monsoon, we had undertaken significant work to deepen the riverbed, but due to certain obstructions, only 25 percent of the work could be completed. The remaining work will be carried out after the rainy season,” he said.Despite the risk, the minister expressed hope that the floodwaters would safely pass through Ambala Cantonment. Nonetheless, he confirmed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been called in as a precautionary measure and boats have been arranged for potential rescue operations.

Residents living within the river’s path have been advised to collect essential belongings and vacate the area.The minister also undertook a detailed survey of colonies situated along both banks of the Tangri River, covering localities such as Matidas Nagar, Golden Park, Babyal, Rampur, Sarsehdi, Prabhu Prem Puram, Kardhan, Nangal, and Maheshnagar. At multiple points, including the Tangri bridge on Jagadhari Road and Chandpura bridge, Vij personally reviewed the water flow and instructed officials to continue repeated public announcements for evacuation in vulnerable areas.Meanwhile, Ambala deputy commissioner Ajay Singh Tomar also visited the Tangri riverfront to assess the situation. He reported that about 20,000 cusecs of water had been recorded at Barwala around 8 am, following heavy overnight rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and the Morni Hills. However, rainfall has since subsided in the upper catchment, and the water level at Barwala has begun to recede.“An alert was issued in time, and both SDRF and NDRF teams are fully prepared.

Police are maintaining strict vigil. Over the next two to three hours, the water level in Tangri River is expected to decline further,” Tomar said.To prevent urban flooding, municipal teams have been instructed to deploy pumps in low-lying areas to drain accumulated water. Authorities have also ordered the temporary closure of some schools near the riverbanks as a precaution. Encouragingly, the DC confirmed that no reports of people being trapped have been received so far.“SDRF teams with boats are stationed on-site and will immediately undertake rescue operations if required. All departments are working in close coordination, and the situation is under control. We expect conditions to normalize within the next few hours,” he assured.The Tangri River has witnessed similar rises in water levels in previous monsoon seasons, but timely interventions have ensured safe passage of floodwaters.

This year, partial deepening of the riverbed has further helped in easing the flow. Authorities remain on high alert until the water fully recedes.Government’s Flood Preparedness Fails, Says Chitra SarwaraPolitical activist Chitra Sarwara has sharply criticized the government and administration over the worsening flood-like situation in Ambala Cantonment, alleging that negligence has pushed people to the brink of disaster.

She said that this year nature showed mercy with less-than-expected rainfall, otherwise the situation could have been catastrophic.Sarwara pointed out that a temporary embankment costing Rs 30 lakh near Chandpura, Ramgarh Majra, and Rampur Sarsehri collapsed as soon as the water pressure rose, leading to flooding of houses, fields, and entire settlements. “The government that boasts of spending crores saw its dream project collapse in minutes,” she remarked.

Women, children, and the elderly were forced to abandon their homes with tears in their eyes, later rescued with the help of NDRF teams.She added that colonies such as Aman Nagar, Pooja Vihar, Prabhu Prem Puram, Tagore Garden, New Preet Nagar, and others are under severe distress, with families crammed into shelters without food, water, or toilets. Calling this an “administrative crime,” she demanded immediate setting up of shelters, provision of food, drinking water, and e-toilets for women and children.Sarwara, who reached the site with her team and JCB machines, appealed to locals to cooperate with rescue efforts and urged citizens to come forward to support affected families. She accused the government of corruption and indifference, saying, “This is not a natural disaster but the result of administrative failure and neglect.”