Parts Of Punjab's Gurdaspur Inundated After Heavy Rain, Release Of Excess Water From Dams

A number of people residing in the low-lying regions and villages on the banks of the rivers in Punjab were moved to safer places.

Several areas in Punjab's Gurdaspur got submerged following heavy rain lashing parts of the state. Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) were dispatched to conduct rescue operations in the flood-hit region. News agency ANI shared a visual from the area that showed waterlogged streets.

NDRF Inspector Sanjay Bisht while talking to ANI said, "I have come here with a team of 24 people for rescue and evacuation. The administration is deputing us where there is a need."

Another reason for Gurdaspur facing this situation is that excess water was released from Bhakra and Pong dams following which not just Gurdaspur but many areas of Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar districts are also battling inundation. Following the release by these dam reservoirs, the water level in the Beas river and Sutlej river also increased. The Bhakra dam on the Sutlej river and the Pong dam on the Beas river, both in Himachal Pradesh, are almost overflowing after heavy rain lashed their respective catchment areas, reported news agency PTI.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that the Punjab government is keeping a close watch on the situation, adding that relief and rescue operations are underway in the flood-hit areas.

 A number of people residing in the low-lying regions and villages on the banks of the rivers in Punjab were moved to safer places. The district officials have appealed to people in the flood-struck regions to move to safer locations. Due to the current situation, the Gurdaspur district administration announced holidays in government and private schools in the affected regions till further orders.

Rupnagar authorities declared holidays in schools and Anganwadi centres in the affected areas on August 17 and 18. Numerous villagers waded through the affected areas to move to safer places while carrying essential supplies on their shoulders. Tractor-trolleys were also used to rescue people, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which manages the Bhakra and the Pong dams, on Wednesday, said it will release excess water in a controlled manner for the next four to five days to take the level in their reservoirs to a safe level, according to PTI reports. 

Notably, Punjab is witnessing floods for the second time in just over a month. Several parts of the state were affected by a downpour in the state between July 9 and 11 that flooded vast tracts of farmlands and other areas, besides paralyzing daily life.