Flood Situation Worsens in Punjab After Heavy Water Discharge from Bhakra, Pong Dams
Punjab continues to grapple with worsening flood conditions following the heavy discharge of water from Bhakra and Pong dams due to incessant rainfall in Himachal Pradesh’s catchment areas.
On Wednesday morning, the water level at Bhakra Dam stood at 1,677.84 feet, close to its maximum capacity of 1,680 feet. The dam witnessed an inflow of 86,822 cusecs, with outflow rising from 65,042 cusecs to 75,000 cusecs, raising concerns for downstream areas. Authorities warned that villages in the Nangal belt could be directly impacted.
The Rupnagar district administration has asked locals residing near the Sutlej river to remain vigilant. Similarly, Patiala authorities have issued alerts for residents of Rajpura’s villages along the Ghaggar river. SAS Nagar (Mohali) has also cautioned people living near riverbanks.
Punjab is experiencing widespread devastation due to swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, along with seasonal rivulets. Heavy rains across Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have aggravated the crisis. To date, the deluge has claimed 30 lives and impacted over 3.5 lakh people in Punjab alone.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several regions, including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur in Punjab. Other districts under red alert span Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging residents in low-lying and riverbank areas to remain cautious and follow safety advisories.
