11 die, 8 in HP; red alert in Punjab as Pong Dam to release excess water

Heavy rain and flash floods in the north India have killed at least 11 people, including eight in Himachal Pradesh, even as the “high alert” has been sounded in Punjab, which is bracing for inundation as flood gates of Pong Dam in HP’s Kangra district may be opened on Monday night as the water level is running above the danger mark.

The situation in Haryana too is grim with rivers overflowing and the Government has issued advisory to the people not to venture near water bodies, rivers or canals.

Schools in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab have been closed for Tuesday fearing more rain in the States. While three people were washed away in Beas near Manali after their vehicle fell into the river, two other people were washed away in Parbati river in Manikaran valley on Sunday midnight. A bus and a truck were washed away in the swelling Beas river in Kullu district. Several houses were also swept away in flash floods as the Beas is flowing at a dangerous level. Later in the day, the Himachal Cabinet reviewed the losses, rehabilitation and rescue operations.

In the Cabinet meeting, held in Shimla under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, it was informed that 120 stranded persons were rescued from Koksar in Lahaul-Spiti, 23 from Marhi and 31 from Rohtang (Kullu). Apart from it, 33 persons stranded at Phojal in Kullu were also rescued. Out of these, 21 persons were rescued by the Air Force and 14 persons were rescued by other means.

As many as 45 vehicles were retrieved from Koksar in Lahaul-Spiti. Similarly, 600 students and teachers were shifted from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyala Chamba and 100 students from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Mehla in Chamba district. In addition to this, three families of Rakh in Chamba district were also shifted to PWD Rest House.

The Cabinet was also apprised that 12 tourists from Sikkim State have been evacuated from Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti to a Hotel at Keylong.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of incessant rain in the catchment areas of the Beas river, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) issued an advisory to Punjab ahead of releasing “excess” water from the Pong dam. The BBMB authorities said they have been constantly monitoring the water-level situation.

Heavy rain led to landslides which blocked the roads to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Yamunotri, affecting the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand.

“Due to high pattern inflow in the Pong reservoir and considering forecast of heavy rain in the Beas catchment area, excess water from the Pong dam can be released. All necessary steps be taken by all concerned to avoid any damage or loss of life and property in the downstream areas,” said the BBMB

advisory.

BBMB Chairman DK Sharma apprised Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh about water-level situation in Bhakra and Pong dams on Monday. The Chief Minister on Monday called an emergency meeting to review arrangements in the wake of incessant rain. Capt Amarinder also ordered a special girdawari (survey) to assess possible crop damage. Chairing an emergency meeting to assess the situation arising out of continuous rain, he announced a special girdawari for assessing crop damage due to heavy rain.

He asked the Financial Commissioner Revenue (FCR) to issue detailed guidelines to the Deputy Commissioners for initiating the process of girdawari immediately after the water level recedes.

In Chandigarh, the iconic Sukhna Lake’s water level crossed the danger mark of 1,163 feet and Chandigarh Administration opened two floodgates of the man-made waterbody. Before this, it was in the year 2008 when flood gates of the lake were opened after the water level had crossed 1,163 feet.

 Till September 22, the water level was 1,162 feet and had witnessed further rise on Monday after heavy rainfall in the past two days. The water will be drained out to seasonal river Sukhna choe, which passes through the industrial area of Chandigarh.

“The water gates of Sukhna Lake were opened on Monday after a decade as the water level crossed over the danger mark due to the heavy rain in the catchment area. It is after 10 years that the water level in the reservoir has reached its highest level mark of 1,163 feet,” said a spokesperson of UT Administration.