Chandigarh: Heavy rainfall in the hilly regions of Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir has triggered flooding across several parts of Punjab, leaving six districts badly affected. Authorities have issued a yellow alert for Monday, warning of heavy to very heavy showers in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Rupnagar, while the rest of the state may receive light to moderate rain.
According to officials, rising water levels in major dams have added to the crisis. The Pong Dam has crossed its danger mark, touching 1382.8 feet against the limit of 1380 feet, forcing authorities to release water. The Bhakra Dam is currently at 1663.34 feet, just below the danger point of 1680 feet, while the Ranjit Sagar Dam is inching towards the critical level at 1712.7 feet. Meanwhile, the opening of Sukhna Lake’s gates has increased the risk of flooding along the Ghaggar River, with a possible impact in Patiala.
In Pathankot, rising waters of the Ravi have inundated border villages and BSF outposts, submerging homes under 2–3 feet of water. Similarly, the Beas river is in spate after relentless rainfall in Himachal, flooding low-lying areas of Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Tarn Taran. The Sutlej surge has exacerbated the situation in Fazilka and Harike Headworks, where several villages are already submerged in water.
Relief efforts are underway, with Khalsa Aid teams stepping in at Sultanpur Lodhi to rescue stranded livestock and provide food and shelter to displaced families.
The situation has also disrupted connectivity. The Pathankot–Jammu rail line has been affected due to landslides and track damage, forcing the short termination of several trains. Authorities have advised passengers to check updates before travelling.
Weather officials have predicted another spell of heavy rain on Tuesday in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur. Conditions are expected to stabilize temporarily from Wednesday, before the monsoon regains momentum across Punjab from August 23.
