Flood waters surround Arni varsity; 100 students, staffers rescued

At least 100 students and staff members of Arni University in Kathgarh of Kangra’s Indora subdivision, were evacuated late last night after flood waters surrounded the campus following continuous rainfall and heavy discharge from Pong Dam. No casualties were reported.

According to reports, incessant rain and the rising water level of the Beas river and adjoining seasonal streams triggered flooding in low-lying areas of Indora. The university administration alerted local authorities when the water encircled the campus.

Subsequently, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed and they carried out the evacuation.

All students and staff present on the premises were safely rescued by the rescue teams in a night-long operation, said an official of the local administration.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor of Arni University, Manish Srivastava, told The Tribune that classes had already been suspended a couple of days ago following administrative advisory. “We hired a hotel in Pathankot to accommodate some students, while others were shifted to a nearby dera at Sekhupura. Several others were sent home in university buses,” he said.

Srivastava clarified that flood waters did not enter the university campus but inundated surrounding areas. “Only a few hostel residents and security staff were left behind. They have now been evacuated as a precautionary measure,” he added. He said, “Senior officials of the university and I are still on the campus, and there is nothing to worry about the prevailing situation. The evacuations have been carried out as a precautionary measure.”

Meanwhile, the low-lying areas of Indora continue to face flood-like conditions due to relentless rainfall and water discharge from Pong Dam, causing widespread disruption in the region.

The district administration has already evacuated hundreds of people from the ‘mand’ areas adjoining the Beas river.