Chandigarh: The Bhakra Beas Management Board has issued an urgent public safety warning following a substantial increase in water inflow at the Pandoh Dam reservoir. Officials announced that additional water will be discharged from the dam on Saturday, triggering an immediate safety advisory for residents living along the banks of the Beas River. Located approximately 20 kilometres upstream from Mandi town in Himachal Pradesh, the dam management plans to release around 2,000 cusecs of excess water, which is expected to push the total flow of the Beas River well over the 6,000 cusecs mark.
In light of the impending water release, local administrations and board authorities have strongly advised citizens to stay away from the riverbeds and suspend all water-related activities until further notice. The public has been cautioned that water levels can surge rapidly and unpredictably after the spillway gates are opened, making routine activities such as bathing, swimming, or fishing highly hazardous. The warning emphasizes the need for extreme vigilance among communities situated near the riverbanks to prevent any accidental mishaps.
The Pandoh Dam is an integral component of the 990-megawatt Beas-Sutlej Link Project, designed to divert the waters of the Beas River for hydroelectric power generation. During the peak summer and monsoon months, heavy inflows frequently necessitate the controlled release of surplus water back into its natural course to maintain structurally safe reservoir levels. Because previous discharges have occasionally impacted low-lying regions across the Mandi, Hamirpur, and Kangra districts—sometimes resulting in localized flooding and property damage—officials are calling for full cooperation with local emergency services to ensure public safety.
