category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU chandigarh Relief work continued at a brisk pace in the flood-maroone areas of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana on Thursday, where the rain fury has left normal life paralysed in worst-hit parts. Authorities in the two states have stepped up relief operations as the weather has improved over the past three days. Overall, 14 districts have been affected in Punjab and seven in Haryana. With six more deaths due to rain-related incidents in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday, the death toll now stands at 21, including 10 in Haryana, according to government data. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also took stock of the situation in some affected areas. Meanwhile, amid the blame game over water flow from the Hathnikund barrage increasing the Yamuna level in Delhi, Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal Thursday said not releasing excess water from the barrage could lead to a bigger damage. Roads turned into rivers and water gushed into houses, crematoriums and shelter homes, impairing daily life in the national capital, even as Yamuna s water level stabilised after reaching 208.62 metres on Thursday, smashing the all-time record set 45 years ago by a significant margin. Officials said the water flowing in the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar district on Thursday was around 1 lakh cusecs in the afternoon, significantly down from Tuesday morning s flow rate of around 3.21 lakh cusecs of water discharged from the barrage. With Delhi Traffic Police on Thursday issuing an advisory on the traffic restrictions owing to the rising water level of Yamuna, buses from Haryana Roadways depots, including Panipat and Sonipat, Thursday plied only till Singhu on the Haryana-Delhi border, roadways officials said. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who visited some affected areas, told reporters in Patiala s Patran that Punjab was adversely impacted by the recent heavy rains in the state and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.Mann said he is constantly monitoring the situation and has directed the officials in the affected areas to extend all possible help to people. Hitting back at rival parties which targeted the state s AAP government for its alleged lack of planning and preparation, Mann said his current priority was to take care of the people who are in need. Asked if Punjab has sought any flood relief package from the Centre, Mann said the loss is still being assessed. We are yet to assess the loss, he said, while adding If they (the Centre) have to give (any package) they may, but we are not going to beg, he said. Considering the safety of students, the Punjab government on Thursday extended the holiday in schools till July 16. Earlier, it had announced holidays till July 13. Over 14,000 people have been shifted to safer places from waterlogged localities in several of Punjab s affected districts. Meanwhile, in the Ferozepur district, a portion of a bridge at Hajara Singh Wala village over the Sutlej river caved in Thursday, affecting the connectivity of more than twenty villages. With the help of BSF jawans, we are trying to fill this breach using soil bags, said Harbhajan Singh, former sarpanch of the village.ub Divisional Magistrate (Zira) Gagandeep Singh said the administration is trying to make temporary repairs and restore the bridge connectivity at teh earliest possible. The flood situation has also impacted a cross-section of people. (editor dailyworld.in)