Ferozepur, Sept. 4 -- The flood crisis in Punjab's border belt has worsened, with the swollen Sutlej-fed by heavy rains, cloudbursts and fresh releases from Bhakra and Pong dams-submerging 111 villages in Ferozepur and 77 in Fazilka as of Wednesday.

According to officials, 39,076 people in Ferozepur and 21,562 in Fazilka have been affected, with thousands of acres lying submerged in both districts, forcing 3,495 people in Ferozepur and 2,422 in Fazilka to evacuate.

As 3.30 lakh cusecs of water was discharged from Harike Headworks, about 40,000 cusecs higher than the 2023 flood peak, the RG embankment near Manu Machhi village in Makhu, Zira sub-division gave way, flooding vast tracts in Chak Manu Machhi, Jamaliwala, Gatta Dallar and Tibi...