Punjab: Torrential rains in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu have triggered a critical flood situation in Punjab after the Pong Dam’s water level surged past the danger mark. Authorities opened the dam’s floodgates at 2:30 PM on Thursday, as the reservoir reached 1396 feet—well above its danger threshold of 1390 feet.
The surge in water discharge has left seven districts in Punjab—Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Ferozepur, and Fazilka—reeling under floodwaters, with more than 150 villages inundated. In several areas, water levels have risen to between five and seven feet, prompting large-scale evacuations and rescue operations.
Tragically, three lives have been lost in the flood-hit state so far—two in Madhopur and one in Gurdaspur. In Pathankot, four members of a Gujjar family remain missing as search operations continue.
Irrigation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, during a visit to Ferozepur, emphasized the severity of the situation. “The volume of water entering the dams is unprecedented—more than what we saw in 1988 or even in 2023,” he stated. “The dams are overwhelmed, and managing the flow has become increasingly difficult.”
In a show of inter-state support, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Saini has reached out to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, offering assistance to manage the crisis.
Emergency services have been ramped up across the affected regions. Over 2,000 people have been evacuated in Ferozepur alone and relocated to relief shelters. Teams from the Army, NDRF, police, and local authorities are utilizing both land and water vehicles to conduct rescue and relief operations.
The situation is rapidly evolving in Ajnala (Amritsar), where the number of flood-impacted villages has risen from 15 to 25 in a single day. Some parts of Amritsar have already been evacuated as water from the Ravi River continues to rise.
Further compounding the crisis, the Ranjit Sagar Dam in Pathankot is nearing its danger level of 527 feet. Although still under the critical mark, four of its gates have been opened to ease the pressure.
Infrastructure damage is also mounting. A gate at the Madhopur Headworks on the Ravi River gave way on Wednesday, resulting in major traffic disruptions on the Pathankot-Jammu highway due to heavy waterlogging.
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has cited the persistent downpours in upper catchment areas as the cause of the sudden spike in reservoir levels. Their decision to release water was made to prevent a larger disaster, though the move has strained downstream regions significantly.
Authorities are urging residents to stay alert, avoid low-lying areas, and follow official advisories closely as more rain is expected in the coming days. Relief efforts remain ongoing, with a focus on locating the missing and providing essentials to those displaced.
