Beas level crosses 1.3L cusecs, cracks appear in Ahli Kalan bundh 

The rising water level of the Beas has created a flood threat. According to reports from the Drainage Department, the river’s gauge has crossed 1.30 lakh cusecs.

With the increase in water, farmers are deeply worried. To save the advance embankment built by farmers at Ahli Kalan from breaching, local residents, under the leadership of Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, have been working tirelessly day and night. Strengthening work at weak points on the embankment has been underway since August 16.

Volunteers of Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal said 15,000 soil-filled bags had been placed to reinforce the embankment. They added that around 15 quintals of iron wire had already been used for crate-making.

Ranjit Singh and Jathedar Balwinder Singh of Ahli Kalan said the flood threat was serious.

They added as per the Drainage Department, at 3 pm more than 1.30 lakh cusecs was flowing past Dhillwan Bridge. With this much water, the 18-km-long earthen embankment has developed cracks at three points. Farmers said the embankment was sensitive at five points. If heavy rain occurs in Himachal Pradesh, the situation may spiral out of control.

Under the leadership of Sant Seechewal, volunteers and farmers at Ahli Kalan have been reinforcing nearly 1,000 feet of the weakened embankment by placing 15,000 sandbags.

Speaking to reporters, Sant Seechewal said with farmers’ support, strengthening work was also being carried out at four more weak points on the advance embankment, and these would soon be secured.

Meanwhile, senior officers said 75,000 cusecs was released into the Beas from Pong Dam. They added that if rainfall decreased in the hilly areas, the river’s water level would recede and significantly improve conditions in the worst-affected villages. They claimed that the Dhussi embankment was stable.