Chandigarh: Punjab minister Barindra Goyal on Saturday said that the flood situation in the state remains critical as heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have pushed water levels in rivers and reservoirs, drawing parallels with the 2023 deluge.
He said Bhakra and Ranjit Sagar dams still have storage capacity, but Pong Dam has reached 1,378 feet, forcing authorities to release water in a controlled manner after consultations with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
In Kapurthala’s Bopur Tapu area, breaches in locally built embankments have affected nearly 3,000 of 3,500 acres of farmland. Around 600 residents, including elderly and children, have been evacuated, while health and veterinary teams have been deployed in relief centres set up in Sultanpur Lodhi and Bhulath.
Ferozepur district has reported flooding in five riverine villages, submerging 4,800 acres of farmland. While state-built embankments remain intact, several community-built bunds have collapsed. Connectivity to Kaluval village has been restored temporarily through boats.
In Fazilka, nearly 6,400 acres of crops in five border villages have been destroyed due to floodwaters.
The minister said the state government is closely monitoring the situation and relief operations are underway.
