After the Hindon River surges by 10,000 cusecs, 1,000 people are evacuated from Ghaziabad. Alarming

After the Hindon River surges by 10,000 cusecs, 1,000 people are evacuated from Ghaziabad.

In a devastating turn of events, over 1,000 people were evacuated from various villages near Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad as the Hindon River‘s flow surged, flooding upstream areas. The situation took a sudden and unexpected turn as the water level increased significantly in the last 48 hours, catching residents off guard and leaving many with no choice but to abandon their homes and belongings.

According to officials from the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department, the discharge in the Hindon River rose dramatically in a short period. On Thursday, the discharge was recorded at 2,848 cusecs with a water level of 199.05 meters. However, within 24 hours, it rose to 8,115 cusecs, with a water level of 199.85 meters on Friday. By Saturday, the discharge had escalated to a staggering 13,423 cusecs, with the water level reaching 200.25 meters. The alarming situation prompted authorities to set the danger level at 205.8 meters.

The sudden increase in water discharge wreaked havoc in several upstream villages, including Karhera, Ator Nagla, and Firozpur Mohan, among others. The floodplains were completely submerged, and rescue efforts were initiated promptly. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed to evacuate people to safer areas, and four shelters were set up to accommodate the displaced individuals. Approximately 1,000 people were successfully relocated, but the extent of the damage was already severe.

Residents of the affected areas recounted their harrowing experiences. Lalita Devi, a resident of Balaji Colony near Ator, shared her ordeal, stating that the water flooded their neighbourhood unexpectedly, leaving them with no choice but to flee to safer locations, leaving their belongings behind. She described how rescuers arrived in boats to assist in the evacuation, but her house and all her household items were submerged in water.

Dinesh Ram, another resident, expressed his distress as he lost his hard-earned investment of ₹6 lahks in a newly constructed house. With the house now completely submerged, he and his family had to seek refuge in a shelter. The waters in their neighbourhood were nine feet deep, leaving their belongings inaccessible and destroyed.

Similar stories of loss and devastation were echoed by other residents. Dheeraj Chaudhary, a resident of Ator Nagla, reported that more than 50 houses in his village and about 150 in nearby Adarsh Nagar were submerged in water, with depths ranging from 5 to 10 feet. The evacuation efforts were in full swing, with the gram panchayat coordinating food, medicine, and water for the affected people. He also noted that a medical healing facility and a cremation ground were among the submerged areas.

Officials from the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department shed light on the historic floods that occurred in 1978, which inundated significant areas near the Hindon River with a total discharge of approximately 130,000 cusecs. They revealed that the Hindon barrage in the downstream region can hold around 100,000 cusecs of water.

The current problems in upstream villages have arisen due to the absence of embankments between Karhera, which is adjacent to the Hindon airbase, and the upstream areas. While embankments continue from Karhera towards the Hindon barrage near Vasundhara, the lack of protective measures in certain areas led to rapid flooding.

Authorities attributed the surge in water levels to heavy flooding in Saharanpur. The continuous rise in water levels was expected to continue in the coming days, posing a serious threat to the already affected regions.

This catastrophe comes in the wake of the recent flooding in Ghaziabad’s Loni area, where the Alipur embankment on the Yamuna floodplains failed, causing significant damage. Although repairs were completed on July 15, the impact of the flood was still fresh in the authorities’ minds. To prevent a similar situation from arising due to the Hindon River, authorities remained on high alert, closely monitoring the situation to safeguard Sahibabad and the surrounding areas.

As the devastation continued to unfold, the affected communities struggled to cope with the loss of their homes and belongings. The immediate priority was ensuring the safety and well-being of the evacuated individuals, while authorities worked diligently to contain the disaster’s aftermath.

In conclusion, the sudden surge in the Hindon River’s flow resulted in devastating floods in Ghaziabad, forcing the evacuation of over 1,000 residents from upstream areas. The unexpected increase in water discharge caught people off guard, leaving them with no time to salvage their belongings before fleeing to safer areas.

The efforts to evacuate and assist those affected were commendable, with NDRF teams working tirelessly to relocate people to shelters. However, the damage was extensive, with houses and properties completely submerged. The situation served as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of natural disasters and the importance of preparedness and timely response in mitigating their impact.