Vikal Sharma
Kangra— The water level in Pong Dam remained above the danger mark for the second consecutive day, triggering fresh concerns for downstream regions in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district and parts of Punjab. At 9 am Saturday, the dam recorded a level of 1,391.28 feet, exceeding the permissible limit of 1,390 feet, according to official data.
Authorities reported an inflow of 1,60,276 cusecs, while 84,952 cusecs were discharged — 17,079 cusecs through turbines and 67,873 cusecs via spillways. The Shah Nehar Barrage (SNB) received 73,452 cusecs, and 11,500 cusecs were released at the MHC. Six machines remain operational at the dam.
Flood Alert in Fatehpur and Indora
Flooding continues to disrupt life in the Fatehpur and Indora subdivisions, where over 30 villages have been evacuated. Hundreds of families have been shifted to safer locations, while crops across hundreds of acres lie submerged. Educational institutions, including Arni University, remain closed.
With heavy rainfall in the Beas catchment overnight, water levels in the river and its tributaries surged further. The Kangra district administration has sounded an alert, warning that the situation may deteriorate if discharge levels remain high.
Relief Operations Underway
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed across affected areas. Officials are closely monitoring the dam and downstream flow, urging residents to remain vigilant.
Vikal Sharma
