The flood situation continues to be grim in the border district with standing crops on more than 40,000 acres of land submerged in around 50 villages situated near the Sutlej. The fear of more floods due to incessant rain is a cause for concern with residents already having started shifting to safer places. Though Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon along with a battery of officials from the Drainage Department today visited the flood-hit villages, the release of more water from Harike head-works has been giving anxious moments to the residents. Sekhon said no breach had been reported in the ‘dhussi bundh’, which was being further strengthened to avoid any untoward situation. “I have directed the officials concerned to work on war-footing,” he said. Vinod Chowdhry, Chief Engineer, Drainage, said the discharge downstream Harike was recorded at 1.04 lakh cusecs today while upstream Hussainiwala headworks it was 76,777 cusecs. He said the water level in the Pong Dam had already reached 1,383 feet, which was likely to rise if the downpour continued in catchment areas. “We have controlled the release from the dam till now. However, the safety of the dam has also to be ensured, for which some more water may have to be released subsequently,” he said. Deputy Commissioner Manjit Singh Narang said the district administration had provided tarpaulins, gunny bags and medicines, besides other necessary support, in the flood-ravaged areas. He said girdawaris had been ordered to ascertain crop loss.