Punjab on alert as more Bhakra water on way

Chandigarh, August 17

With heavy rains forecast in the region and the Bhakra Dam reservoir in Himachal Pradesh nearing its peak storage capacity, more water than usual is expected to be released from the dam.

While a general alert has been sounded downstream by the civil administration for residents to take precautionary measures due to rising water levels in the Sutlej and its associated canals, there have been reports of some villages being inundated. The state administration has also geared up to deal with any flooding situation.

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The water level recorded at Bhakra was 1,675 feet today against the permissible level of 1,680 feet. Inflow into the Bhakra reservoir was 60,000 cusecs, while the outflow 53,000 cusecs. The dam’s sluice gates were opened yesterday and will remain so till Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) officials assess that water would not rise above the upper mark.

BBMB officials said discharge up to 50,000 cusecs does not cause flooding downstream in areas along the Sutlej, but safety measures necessitated if more water is released. Though the reservoir is not full, water is being released to cater to the expected heavier inflows over the next few days.

BBMB officials say they are monitoring the inflow and meteorological reports regularly and apprising the state governments about the quantum of water being released.

Meanwhile, heavy rains disrupted normal life in Kathua, Reasi and Udhampur districts of Jammu region, causing damage to houses and roads besides affecting traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway for several hours. In Kathua, 14 nomadic families got trapped in flash floods in Ujh river near Rajbagh and Pandori area. They were evacuated by the police an SDRF team.