Punjab Rains: Flood Alert In 5 Districts As Sutlej, Beas Rivers Rise

Chandigarh: Official agencies of at least five districts of Punjab, namely Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Fazilka and Ferozepur, were put on alert on Sunday with the emerging flood-like conditions there due to rising water levels in Sutlej and Beas rivers and other tributaries.

Besides, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) also issued alert to Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) and Hoshiarpur (Punjab) district administrations to take precautionary measures in low-laying areas as it began controlled release of Pong Dam water level of which rose to an alarming position on Sunday due to heavy rains.

Punjab water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal who reviewed the prevailing situation in several districts told newspersons here that flood-like conditions have also emerged within the land between embankments of rivers passing through the said districts due to rising water levels in rivers and breaches in temporary embankments constructed by farmers within the flood plains.

He said that around 14,200 acres across Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts have been affected by floodwaters. He specified that among the affected areas, Kapurthala district's impacted land comprises residential settlements, while the affected areas in Fazilka and Ferozepur are primarily agricultural land under cultivation. He said that both the state government and district administration are fully committed to providing all possible assistance to the affected population.

He said that he had also directed deputy commissioners to immediately set up relief camps in the affected regions to provide shelter, food and medical facilities to the displaced population.

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Meanwhile, the water level of Pong Dam in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh had also risen to an alarming position at 1,379.98 feet – against its capacity to hold 1,390 feet - Sunday morning, compelling BBMB to begin controlled release of 57,221 cusec water through dam’s turbines and spillways.

ALARM SOUNDED IN 35 HARYANA VILLAGES

Meanwhile, alarm was also sounded in at least 35 villages of Haryana’s Karnal district with the rising water level of Yamuna river on Sunday.

According to officials of the irrigation department, the water level in the river has risen following heavy rains in the neighbouring hilly areas with about 60,000 cusecs water flowing downstream.