Kangra’s flood-prone areas under watchful eye: DC inspects affected stretches

To ensure public safety amid continuous water discharge from the Pong Dam reservoir into the Beas river by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa inspected the mand areas of Fatehpur and Indora subdivisions in lower Kangra last evening. He visited flood-affected stretches of the Beas in Riyali and Mand Bhogarwan panchayats, both considered highly vulnerable to inundation during sustained water releases.

The Indora administration had recently evacuated several families from Mand Bhogarwan panchayat after their residential areas were submerged twice — on August 7 and 10. Though initially reluctant to leave, the families were shifted to safer locations within the panchayat with the intervention of the Indora SDM and assistance from the local police.

During his visit, the DC interacted with residents, urging them to remain vigilant and follow administration advisories in view of the ongoing discharge from the dam. He assured that safeguarding lives and property remains the administration’s top priority. He also held a meeting with BBMB officials, directing them to ensure regulated water release from the Pong Dam spillway gates and turbines to minimise risk. The Public Works and Jal Shakti departments were instructed to assess and report losses caused by waterlogging in the mand areas.

Recalling the flood disaster two years ago — when uncontrolled dam discharge caused severe damage to property and farmland, and residents had to be airlifted — the DC said the administration is on high alert this year and in constant touch with BBMB authorities.

Heavy rainfall in the Beas catchment over the past few days has sharply raised the Pong Dam reservoir level, which has been holding steady between 1,375 and 1,376 feet despite repeated discharges in the last five days. According to BBMB data, at 10 am Tuesday the water level was 1,376.64 feet, rising to 1,376.93 feet by 2 pm. In this period, the reservoir recorded an inflow of 4,70,321 cusecs, with 2,27,194 cusecs released four times between 10 am and 2 pm. Officials say persistent rainfall is the main reason for the sustained high water levels and rising inflow.