A River In Flood

A River In Flood

I spent two weeks of my summer vacation with my friend in his village. It was a very beautiful village situated near the river chenab. There were two protective natural embankments fifteen feet high all around the village. They were very strong and had always saved the village from the floods.

It was the month of August the rainy season had started. The river was in low flood. There was a grove of trees near the river. Everyday we went there to spend the evening. One afternoon, we noticed that the water in the river rising. In an hour, it had overflowed the banks. We run back to the village and told the help people that the river was in flood. I was told that there was nothing to worry. The two mounds for embankments were strong enough to project the village. In the evening, the sky was completely covered with thick black clouds. Soon it began to rain in torrents. 

As soon as the rain stopped we went to the river. From quite distance we could hear the roaring water. The land on both the banks was under deep water. only the rapidly moving current of water showed the proper place on the river. The water was lashing against the bound. It was rising every moment. It was already some eleven feet high. 

On the other side of the river there were three tiny village but no bund. Latter, I was told that the inhabitants had left before the flood reached there. This news satisfied us. It appeared that the first embankments of the river would not withstand the angry flood for long. The trees on the natural mound had already fallen. The water was eroding the bank rapidly. All the people gathered in the school ground. It was decided that the women and children should be sent to a nearby village Which was situation on a hillock. The men were asked to get shovels, axes and baskets report at the second embankment. They began to dig earth and reinforce the embankment to protect the village if the first one was breached. 

Suddenly, I saw water rushing towards us. The first embankment was very low. In a short time it looked like a big lake. When the water struck the embankment we were standing by, it had spread and spent it's force. It's level was now only five feet high. Most of us spent that night in a state of fear. Nut the next day brought us good news. The water was receding and the village was saved from a heavy destruction.