Sukhna floodgates opened after water level reaches danger mark

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 23

Two of the three floodgates of Sukhna Lake had to be opened on Sunday after its water level reached the danger mark of 1,163 feet. They were opened at 3:10 am.

Till the filing of this report, the gates remained open. The UT administration officials are there on the spot keeping a track of the current situation.

August witnessed 339 mm rainfall-- the highest in 16 years. Due to heavy rains, the water level here has reached the danger mark.

"We have alerted the villages like Kishangarh falling near Sukhna. Police have also been deployed on the road near the flood gates. They have put up barricades to ensure nobody comes there. The area around floodgates have also been briefly closed for public," said an official.

Officials said the neighbouring towns in Punjab and Haryana were informed in advance before opening the gates. Seeing the water level, panic gripped locals in areas close to the Sukhna Choe, which carries water to the Ghaggar.

Before this, on September 24, 2018, incessant rain in the catchment area had forced officials to open two flood gates of the lake.

At the time, the gates were opened after a gap of 10 years. Before 2018, it was in 2008 that floodgates had to be opened when a similar situation was there.

According to a police official at the Baltana police post, water entered the post last night, creating panic among employees. Water also entered the MC park adjoining police post.

Khuda Lahora colony residents had a tough time as water entered their houses while they were asleep at 1 am.

Residents said about 80-100 were affected as water from Patiala Ki Rao choe entered inside kitchens and rooms.

"It came from stormwater pipes. The choe has not been cleaned, due to which the water entered here. We could not sleep the whole night as we are trying drain our sofas and beds. The inverter of some of the households also got damaged," said Rajinder Singh, a resident.

People were seen draining out the water in the wee hours.

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