Central team assesses flood havoc in Indora sub-division

The inter-ministerial central team, constituted by the Government of India, arrived in Indora subdivision of Kangra district last evening to assess the devastation caused by incessant rains and the excess water released by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) from the Pong Dam reservoir.

Following heavy rainfall in the Beas river catchment area, the reservoir witnessed an unprecedented rise in water levels. To manage the situation, BBMB discharged excess water into the Beas, triggering panic among local residents of downstream mand area panchayats in Indora and Fatehpur subdivisions. While the local administration relocated people to safer places, the flooding damaged standing paddy crops and rural infrastructure.

The central team included Kandarp V Patel, Deputy Secretary, Union Finance Ministry and Deepa Shekhar Singhal, Under Secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development. Raul Chouhan, Registrar Cooperative Societies, Dharamsala, acted as the state government’s coordinator. The delegation, accompanied by Indora SDM Surinder Thakur, inspected multiple sites and prepared a detailed assessment of rain-related damage.

The team first examined the Civil Enclave Road in Dhangu, where flash floods had disrupted connectivity, followed by inspections of the Chakki Bridge and the Bhadroya link road leading to Kanishka Ashram. They also visited the Milwan-Dhamota area, where the excess release from Pong Dam had caused extensive structural damage, including breaches in protective embankments (dhussis). The visit concluded at Malot, where floodwaters from the Chhonchh Khud had inundated industrial units last month.

During their inspection, the panel reviewed the extent of damage, ongoing restoration work and relief operations undertaken by government departments. The delegation also paid obeisance at Kathgarh’s Mahadev temple, symbolising solidarity with the local community.

Briefing the team, SDM Thakur reported that 28 villages across 14 panchayats were affected due to the water release from Pong Dam. He detailed the widespread destruction of road networks, irrigation and drinking water schemes and agricultural land. The team was also updated on the progress of reconstruction and relief measures.

Meanwhile, the Kangra DC presented a comprehensive report on rain-induced losses during a meeting with the central team in Dharamsala on Wednesday.