CONTINUOUS DOWNPOUR: DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LUDHIANA ASSURES RESIDENTS NOT TO PANIC

• SITUATION UNDER CONTROL; OFFICIALS MONITORING DHUSSI BANDH 24X7: PARDEEP KUMAR AGRAWAL
• NO OFFICIAL TO GET LEAVE OR LEAVE STATION FOR NEXT 48 HOURS

Ludhiana, September 24, 2018: In view of the continuous downpour for the last couple of days, Deputy Commissioner Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal today assured the residents of Ludhiana district not to panic. He said that the situation is completely under control and all concerned officials have been monitoring the Dhussi Bandh 24X7. He said that different flood control rooms have also been set up at the District Headquarter as well as in all sub-divisions of the district.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that no government official would proceed on leave or leave station for the next 48 hours, till further orders.
He stated that the Punjab government has already issued a red alert in all districts of the state. We have been asked to remain on constant vigil and the disaster Control Rooms have been activated. All government officials as well as the Indian Army have been asked to remain on standby. He said that hotspots have been identified with clear evacuation and relief plans ready. Equipment to drain out flood waters have been kept in handy.
The Deputy Commissioner has already asked the SDMs to make adequate arrangements to meet any sort of situation and sufficient stock of boats, oars, life-saving jackets, motor engines, sandbags, wireless system, manpower, machinery, and tarpaulins should be ensured. He said safe places should also be earmarked where residents of flood-affected areas would be shifted if required.
He informed that the police department has been asked to increase the vigil of cops in the areas falling near drains and canals to alert the administration for kind of emergency situation in view of the flood like situation. They have also been asked to prepare a complete list of swimmers and boaters.
The Commissioner Municipal Corporation Ludhiana, Executive Engineer PWD (B&R), Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department have been asked to ensure that the labour/beldar’s under them should be put on standby along with the machinery so that they can be used in case of emergency. The Executive Engineer PWD (B&R) and Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department have been asked to ensure that the contractors under them are kept under mobilisation.
Secretary of Transport Department has been asked to ensure that vehicles/trucks/trolleys/recovery vans are arranged in advance so that they can be used when required. The District Mandi Officer Ludhiana has been asked to ensure that all flood lights used in Mandi’s are kept in stock and four different teams are formed that can be used for the installation of these lights. The contractors appointed for the Kharif season are also kept under mobilisation.
The Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Ludhiana has been asked to ensure that all MC staff does not get any leave till further orders. The MC Commissioner and Chief Administrator, GLADA, have been asked that if they have any machinery/material/goods related to flood control measures, it should also be kept on standby.
The Chief Engineer of PSPCL Ludhiana has been directed to form four different teams that can provide temporary connections if required. Besides, he would also ensure that all equipment needed for providing temporary connections are there in stock and a nodal officer should be appointed for the same.
The XEN PWD (B&R) has been asked to ensure that all staff does not get any leave till further orders and if they have any machinery/material/goods related to flood control measures, it should also be kept on standby. The XEN, NHAI, Ludhiana has been asked to ensure that all staff does not get any leave till further orders and they have been asked to ensure that the labour under them should be put on standby along with the machinery so that they can be used in case of emergency. If they have any machinery/material/goods related to flood control measures, it should also be kept on standby.
A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been asked to remain on standby so that their services can be taken if any situation arises. The Health department has been asked to remain ready to control the situation if any waterborne disease spreads. The sufficient number of medicine, staff, and other facilities must be kept ready. Officials of Veterinary should also make such arrangements to save the livestock from any kind of disease, he added.
The public health department and officials of all Municipal Councils would ensure the availability of clean drinking water at the identified safe places. Chief Agriculture Officer would arrange the fodder for the cattle and District Mandi Officer would be responsible for the arrangements of tarpaulins and similarly, transport department would make the arrangements of vehicles to shift the residents to tackle any kind the situation.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the electricity department officials have been instructed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the hospitals and the officials would not leave their stations without prior permission of their senior officials. All the officials in-charge of various departments have been asked to remain in their headquarters and keep their mobile phones switched on at all hours.
The sub divisional magistrates, tehsildars and DROs have been asked to ensure that all the flood control rooms in the district are in working condition and the officials on duty are present round the clock. The official on duty cannot leave the room unless the other person on duty assumes charge.

LIST OF FLOOD CONTROL ROOMS IN DISTRICT LUDHIANA:

1. DC OFFICE LUDHIANA: 0161-2433100.
2. LUDHIANA (EAST): 0161-2400150.
3. LUDHIANA (WEST): 0161-2412555.
4. JAGRAON: 01624-223226.
5. SAMRALA: 01628-262354.
6. RAIKOT: 01624-264350
7. PAYAL: 01628-276892.
8. KHANNA: 01628-226091.
9. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (DRAINAGE): 0161-2520232.
10. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: 0161-5017728.
11. CIVIL SURGEON LUDHIANA: 0161-2444193.
12. POLICE COMMISSIONERATE LUDHIANA: 100, 0161-2414932-33, 98158-00251, 78370-18500.
13. ARMY: 85589-40825.

ALL SCHOOLS OF LUDHIANA DISTRICT TO REMAIN CLOSED ON SEPTEMBER 25
• DISTRICT MAGISTRATE ISSUES ORDERS IN VIEW OF CONTINUOUS RAINFALL
Ludhiana: In view of heavy rainfall in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, District Magistrate cum Deputy Commissioner Mr Pardeep Kumar Agrawal has ordered that all schools in Ludhiana district would remain closed on September 25, 2018. While issuing the orders under section 144 of CrPC 1973 (Act Number 2 of 1974) the District Magistrate has ordered that all Primary and Senior Secondary Schools (Private/Government/Aided/Affiliated) in Ludhiana district would remain closed on September 25, 2018. The staff deputed in these schools would remain on duty as usual.