KASUR/CHUNIAN The water level in the Sutlej started rising at Ganda Singh, Kasur, after India released more water into the river on Wednesday. Water discharge at Talwar Post was over 85,000 cusecs and the water gauge was 20.40. The situation at a large number of villages including Hakowla, Bhakhiwind, Chanda Singh Wala, Mahi Wala, Mustayki, and Kalanger was alarming but the residents were reluctant to leave their homes despite hectic efforts of the district administration. However, the Kasur district administration claimed the situation was under control and it had made all arrangements to face even the worst. Over one dozen houses at Hakowala village collapsed due to floodwater but no loss of life was reported. Some other villages including Bhikhiwind, Chanda Singh, Mahi Wala, Mustayki, Kalanger and Dhoop Sari also submerged by the floodwater. Crops including maize, rice and fodder over 10,000 acres were inundated while the entire infrastructure of these villages was destroyed. After the surge in water at Bakarkay Post, water entered village Jallokay where rescue 1122 evacuated about 25 people including women and children. The flood-hit areas remained in the grip of tension because of light shower of rain and the cloudy weather throughout the day. Some villagers also showed satisfaction that the district administration had generously distributed cooked food and other items at their doorsteps at the time of Sahar and Iftar. Kasur DCO Irshad Hussain Shah said the situation was under control and if the flood changes from low to medium, the district government would be in a position to tackle the situation and accommodate people in all ways. Meanwhile, the enraged Sutlej continued destruction in different villages of Chunian across the river bed. Kekar Post, Baqarke, Kothi Fateh Muhammad, Nagar, Aimen Pura, Shehjara, Kalanger, Kasoki and Mashteki are the most affected villages. On Wednesday, the flow in the river crossed 80,000 cusecs as compared to 68,000 and 77,000 cusecs flow on Monday and Tuesday respectively. The depth gauge in the river showed 20.10 as compared to 19.40 and 19.80 on Monday and Tuesday respectively. The district administration has failed to prove its effectiveness in the emergency situation. A large number of villagers were sitting in the fields and the generous people were giving them food, clothes and other eatables at the time of sehri and iftari. Sources in the irrigation department hoped the water level in the river shall come down during the next two days. Meanwhile, dozens of villages in Bahawalpur submerged after India released more water into River Sutlej on Wednesday. The water level is persistently rising after India released more water into the river that inundated hundreds of villages. The floodwater has rendered a large number of people homeless and they are migrating to safer places on their own. The affectees said there was no help from the government so far. The flood-displaced people demanded of the government to provide them shelter until floodwater was completely drained out of their villages.