KASUR

Five villages submerged after India opened flood gates of River Sutlej on its side on Saturday, raising water level in the river to 19 feet.
About 55,000 cusecs water is passing through Ganda Singh Wala point which has inundated 5,000 acres land and displaced a large number of people residing on bank of the river.
The villages which have been hit by floodwater include Bhaki Wand, Katti Kalanjar, Basti Kamalpura, Chanda Singh and Mastay Kay. Rescue 1122 staffers and the district administration have been shifting the affected people to safer places.
However, most of the administration officials are busy with joint investigation team (JIT) members who are assigned to probe Kasur child abuse scandal. The affectees could not be provided relief goods so far and people are facing great problems.
Though the administration has established a relief camp at Talwar Post one month ago, no relief activity could be started there. When this correspondent asked a Naib Tehsildar deployed at the camp as to why relief activities could not be started, he said that the DCO is busy with the JIT proceedings and they do not possess the power to begin any such activity. Rescue 1122 has also set up its camp at Talwar Post to expedite rescue and relief operation. It is feared that the floodwater can submerge five to six more villages and the administration should move fast to minimise losses.