Chandigarh: The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for rain in Punjab, warning of showers accompanied by strong winds in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, and Rupnagar districts until August 19. These areas, located near the Himachal Pradesh border, are expected to face intermittent rainfall, while the weather in the remaining districts is likely to stay largely normal.
Following light showers across parts of Punjab on Friday, the state recorded a sudden rise in temperature by nearly 4°C, though readings remain close to seasonal averages. The highest rainfall was observed in Hoshiarpur (7.5 mm), followed by Ropar (5 mm) and Bathinda (1 mm). Maximum temperatures stood at 31.2°C in Amritsar, 34°C in Ludhiana, 33.8°C in Patiala, and 33°C in Bathinda.
Beas River Poses Fresh Concerns
In Mukerian, heavy water flow in the Beas River has damaged the Dhanova bridge, a vital link between Mukerian and Gurdaspur. Cracks have appeared on the structure, prompting authorities to restrict heavy vehicles and station police for safety monitoring. Built in 2016, the bridge now faces added pressure as over 2 lakh cusecs of water is expected to reach Pong Dam by late evening.
Low-Lying Areas Inundated
The continuous release of water from Pong Dam has already flooded several villages in Sri Hargobindpur Sahib region. Residents have started moving to safer locations as fields and homes in low-lying areas come under water. Nearly 100–200 acres of crops have been reported submerged, raising fears of agricultural losses.
In one instance, villagers moved the sacred scripture from Gurdwara Fatta to a secure site as precautionary measures intensified. Locals have urged the government to construct a protective Dhussi Dam along the Beas, arguing that recurring floods devastate crops and homes every year.
