About 200 people evacuated from flood-hit areas in Punjab

KAPURTHALA : The army has rescued about 200 marooned people from the adjoining areas of Sultanpurlodhi, following Saturday's breach in the banks of river Sutlej near Lohian, authorities said here.

Flood waters have affected more than a dozen villages in the Sultanpurlodhi area, Sultanpurlodhi Sub Divisional Magistrate (SAD) Kuldip Singh said.

The worst affected are Shahwal, Mand Inder, Tibbi, Takia, Bharoana, Sheikhmanga, Sarupwal, Ahli and Aluwal and people have shifted to safer places following warnings from the administration.

However, no loss of life has been reported. Crop damage could be assessed only after receding of flood waters. Fields are submerged under three to four feet of water, he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur today visited the affected villages and met the victims. He directed the district administration to speed up relief measures.