Amritsar, September 16: Efforts to plug a massive breach in Ghonewal village of Amritsar’s Ramdass area have slowed as volunteers struggle with its unexpected depth, officials and locals said on Tuesday.
The breach, the largest among 20 reported in Ajnala subdivision, is estimated to be nearly 500 metres long. It triggered flooding in close to 190 villages across Ramdass, Ajnala, Rajasansi and Lopoke. Work on repairs began on September 3, but only half the gap has been closed so far.
“At first, the pit created by the breach was believed to be around 25 to 30 feet deep, but as the plugging work progressed, it was found to be even deeper. The material, including sacks filled with soil, drowns without trace. It appears that the breach is around 50 feet deep,” said volunteer Ajit Singh of the Kar Sewa Guru Ka Bagh group.
The group, along with the district administration, has been leading the effort to drain water and reinforce the embankment. But the sheer scale of the gap continues to pose challenges.
Jodh Singh Samra, a Shiromani Akali Dal leader, said the administration had roped in several Kar Sewa groups for plugging the breaches. “The help of the Army and other departments concerned has also been sought,” he noted.
Officials said the Ghonewal breach remains the most critical among the damaged embankments, with restoration work expected to take more time given the depth and volume of water.
