Water release from Pong Dam wreaks havoc in Fatehpur, Indora

Continuous discharge of water from the Pong Dam for the past 14 days has caused considerable damages in villages situated along the banks of the Beas river in Fatehpur and Indora subdivisions. Farmers and residents are in distress as fertile agricultural land, standing crops and houses have been washed away.

The situation worsened in the past 24 hours as the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) increased the outflow from Pong Dam to more than 67,000 cusecs. The officials of the district administration of Kangra had already issued warnings, but villagers fear that the rising water level could cause larger destruction if rains continue.

In Fatehpur subdivision, villages like Rehatpur, Re and Riyali have been affected, while Indora subdivision has witnessed widespread damage in Badukhar, Bahadur, Bhograwan, Paral, Surdwan, Indora, Miyani, Sanaur, Malkana, Kathgarh, Milwan and adjoining areas.

Ranveer Singh of Riyali village said his crops and fertile land have been submerged, while Mahendra Singh reported losing nearly two kanals of paddy land to floods. “If the water release continues, the losses will multiply,” they said.

The devastation was not limited to crops of maize, paddy and sugarcane. Houses, cattle sheds and other structures have also been damaged, leaving families worried.

According to official data, 33 houses and 37 cow shelters have been damaged in the Kangra district in the past 24 hours alone.

In Palampur, eight kutcha houses were damaged while in Shahpur six kutcha houses, two kitchens and a toilet were damaged and five cow shelters collapsed. In Baijnath one kutcha house and two cow shelters were damaged.

In Jaisinghpur subdivision four kutcha houses and eight cow shelters collapsed while in Dehra, one kutcha house was destroyed, a concrete house was partially damaged and three kutcha houses and three shops were affected. In Jawali, two kutcha houses and one cow shelter were damaged.

In Jawalamukhi, one kutcha house collapsed, two houses were partially damaged and six cow shelters were affected and in Dhira one kutcha house and two cow shelters were damaged. In Nagarota Bagwan two kutcha houses and three cow shelters collapsed and in Kangra sub-division two cow shelters were damaged due to the rain.