Punjab government on Monday asked the Army to remain on alert to help the state deal with any eventuality arising out of the flood like situation triggered in the state due to incessant rains since Saturday.

Reviewing the flood like situation, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh also ordered closure of all schools and colleges on Tuesday. Chairing an emergency meeting here at his official residence, the CM also announced a special girdawari for assessing crop damage due to heavy rains over the past four days.

He asked the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) to issue detailed guidelines to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) for initiating the process of girdawari immediately after the water level recedes.

Amarinder also asked the ministers and legislators to tour their respective areas extensively to assess the ground situation and tie up with the concerned departments for immediate redressal of hardships being faced by the people.

He also directed the Food & Civil Supplies and Animal Husbandry ministers to appoint nodal officers for distribution of food packets to the affected people and dry fodder for the animals in view of the situation.

The CM also asked the FCR to seek any assistance from Army, Border Security Force and National Disaster Response Force and other paramilitary forces, if needed. Expressing concern over the possible outbreak of water borne diseases including diarrhea, jaundice and conjunctivitis etc., the CM asked the Health department to take preventive measures by organizing special medical checkup camps and arranging sufficient stock of medicines in this behalf.

Taking part in the deliberations, BBMB Chief DK Sharma apprised the Chief Minister that situation at Bhakhra reservoir was in control so far and they were regularly monitoring the water levels at Pong Dam.

Meanwhile, principal secretary Water Resources pointed out that the water level at Pong Dam was at present 1385.12 feet against the maximum level of 1390 feet, the level at Bhakhra was at 1655.49 feet against maximum capacity of 1680 feet and at Ranjit Sagar Dam which feeds river Ravi was 526.65 meter against the maximum level of 527.91 meter.

Earlier, the chief principal secretary to CM said that in compliance with the red alert already issued by the state government this morning, all the Deputy Commissioners were keeping a close tab over the current situation in view of incessant rains and disaster control rooms had been activated. All the officials have been directed to remain at standby in view of the situation.

Besides, the Army had also been requested to remain on alert to help the state in such a situation. The DCs have been asked to identify hotspots with clear evacuation and relief plans ready before hand. Equipment to drain out flood waters had been kept handy.

Apart from these, districts in catchment area of three rivers Satluj, Ravi and Beas had already arranged enough boats to rescue the affected people.