Fears of a flood are knocking at Punjab’s door of Punjab yet again as Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) released another alert. The state is now on high alert as the water inflow into two dams—Pong and Bhakra—has seen an increase, subsequently raising water levels. The Punjab Government on Wednesday ordered schools closed till 26 August. On Thursday, the two dams were forced to release a greater amount of water as compared to the day before.
Due to incessant rain in Himachal Pradesh, specifically in the catchment area of the two dams, the water level in the Pong Dam has again reached the maximum level of 1,390 feet. The inflow into the dam is now well over double. It was 58,702 cusecs on Wednesday, increasing to 1,38,674 cusecs yesterday evening. This has forced the authorities to release more water from the dam by partially opening the floodgates. The dam released 67,340 cusecs of water on Thursday against Wednesday’s 65,711 cusecs. The water level in the Bhakra Dam has been inching to the maximum level of 1,680 ft as well—levels were at 1,674.18 feet yesterday evening. The inflow to the dam has increased to 1,28,406 cusecs against Wednesday’s 72,835 cusecs.
Senior officials in the state Irrigation Department say if the rain continues in the catchment area of the dams, Punjab may have to grapple with floods again as more water is released from the dams; this has led to a high level of water in both the Sutlej and the Beas. The water level of the Sutlej continued to remain high at Harike at 1,42,766 cusecs and 1,33,224 cusecs at Hussainiwala. The Beas too continued to have a high water level of 1,37,200 cusecs at Hoshiarpur (Passi) and of 1,36,000 cusecs at Kapurthala (Dhilwan). As per Government records, nine districts of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Moga, Patiala, Ropar and Tarn Taran were affected by rain on Thursday.
The flood situation continues to remain grim in Fazilka, where the body of a missing person was recovered and six villages were inundated by floodwaters, taking the total number of affected villages there to 45. There are reports of 72 houses being damaged in Gurdaspur, Ropar, Amritsar, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib. The process of evacuation of stranded people continued by the civil and police administration and 176 persons were evacuated from Ferozepur and Fazilka.
