Overview

• Orders signed by Principal Secretary Krishan Kumar on September 15 suspended XEN Nitin Sood, SDO Arun Kumar and JE Sachin Thakur, who were moved to the Chief Engineer’s headquarters in Chandigarh pending inquiry.
• Two of the 54 gates at the Madhopur headworks failed during operations on August 27–28 as over 2 lakh cusecs were released from Ranjit Sagar Dam, worsening floods in Pathankot and Gurdaspur and causing cross-border damage, with one departmental death and airlifts reported.
• The Union Home Ministry on September 16 classified the Punjab floods as a disaster of ‘severe nature’ and sought a detailed report within three months, paving the way for SDRF support and possible NDRF supplementation after assessment.
• Punjab’s water resources minister issued a notice to Level9 Biz Private Limited over allegedly certifying gate capacity, while the firm replied that structural health assessment was outside its scope.
• Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar blamed the state government for the crisis, demanded an inquiry under a retired judge and filed a Chandigarh police complaint over alleged misinformation, pressing for clarity on dam releases, maintenance and inspection contracts.