Water release stopped from Ranjit Sagar

The state authorities have decided to stop the release of water from the Ranjit Sagar Dam after the Ravi catchment area in Jammu and Kashmir received light rainfall. The water level in the dam was recorded at 520.537 metres, nearly seven metres below the danger mark.

The move comes following lower than predicted rainfall in the Jammu region.

The swollen Ravi had earlier wreaked havoc in border districts of the state.

The prediction of heavy rainfall had sent flood-hit farmers in a tizzy.

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall from October 6 to 8 in the catchment area of the river.

Meanwhile, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which looks after the Pong and Bhakra dams, is yet to take a call on continuing the release of water.

On Monday, 31,000 cusecs of water was released from the Bhakra Dam and 50,000 cusecs from the Pong. The water level in the Pong dam, constructed in the Beas, had remained above the danger mark of 1,390 feet for a prolonged period in the past two months.