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Pong Nears Upper Limit as Releases Surge, Beas Floods Punjab Lowlands

Managers are increasing outflows to keep the reservoir within safe operating levels.

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The flood situation in the low-lying areas of Punjab can be worsened if high inflow in Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams continues for more days.
Villagers in Sultanpur Lodhi’s Baupur Jadid village shifting their livestock to safer locations. (HT photo)

Overview

  • Officials reported the Pong reservoir at about 1,390.56 feet with inflows near 2.33 lakh cusecs and regulated discharges around 79,500 cusecs into the Shah Nehar Barrage.
  • Beas flows swelled to roughly 1.48–1.55 lakh cusecs, inundating parts of Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala where villages and farmland in low-lying areas went under water.
  • In Mukerian subdivision, water re-entered homes in Kolian and affected eight villages, triggering fresh evacuations and damaging crops, with breaches noted near Chakki Khad.
  • Kapurthala authorities reported a breach that flooded an estimated 30,000 acres of paddy fields and said evacuations and embankment reinforcement were underway.
  • BBMB cautioned releases could rise further to protect dam safety, with Bhakra’s gates already opened on August 19, as district administrations, the Red Cross and SGPC sustained rescue and relief efforts.