Water level down in dams as farmers brace for heavy rain

Anticipating heavy showers in next three days, the authorities have brought down the water level at the Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams even as rain flattened paddy crop at several places in Ferozepur and Faridkot districts on Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall at places in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab between October 6 and 8, sending flood-hit farmers into a tizzy in areas along the Beas and Ravi. On Sunday, rain lashed nine districts, including Ferozepur and Faridkot, where 48 mm and 27.6 mm rainfall was recorded, respectively.

Waterlogging was also witnessed at several grain markets at a time when paddy procurement is beginning to peak.

According to official data, the release of the Sutlej water from the Bhakra Dam was being maintained at 43,000 cusecs for the past two days.

The release from the Pong Dam, constructed on the Beas, was recorded at 49,000 cusecs. The outflow from the Ranjit Sagar Dam, built on the Ravi, was 39,686 cusecs.

The water level at the Bhakra was almost nine feet below the danger mark of 1,680 feet while it was over three feet below the mark at the Pong.

According to the weatherman, heavy rainfall of 123 mm is expected in the catchment areas of the Ravi in Jammu and Kashmir between October 6 and 8, and 116 mm in the catchment areas of the Beas in Himachal Pradesh.

The state government is on high alert and monitoring the situation closely.

“It has started raining in the Jammu region and people living in areas along the Ravi have moved most of their belongings to rooftops,” said Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal.

“During recent floods, big breaches had occurred in embankments along the Ravi. Since many of these breaches have not been plugged yet, there is worry that gushing water from the river may enter the fields and villages once again,” he added.

Residents of Ajnala, one of the worst-hit areas in recent floods, had seen as many as 23 breaches, of which only seven could be repaired till now, according to sources.