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Chandigarh: The flood situation in Punjab worsened on Wednesday after the Ravi river breached its banks in Amritsar district, submerging several villages near Ajnala. The holy city itself witnessed heavy overnight rain, leaving roads and residential areas waterlogged and disrupting everyday life.
According to official data, the water level in the Ravi River reached 4.60 lakh cusecs early Wednesday, triggering flooding across Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot. The situation remains precarious with the Ranjit Sagar Dam crossing its danger mark of 527.91 metres. Authorities said 1.95 lakh cusecs of water were released on Tuesday, with more expected to be released in the coming days. Controlled releases are also being carried out from the Bhakra and Pong dams.
The flood fury extended to Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka, where the Beas and Sutlej rivers remain in spate. Schools across Punjab have been ordered shut till August 30.
The state government has issued fresh warnings to residents of villages along riverbanks to stay prepared for evacuation. The civil administration, the Army, the police, and the State Disaster Response Force are on high alert, while relief camps have been established in the areas most severely affected.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is scheduled to tour Pathankot and Gurdaspur on Thursday to assess the situation and review rescue efforts. A state-level flood management committee and a central control room in Jalandhar have been established to coordinate relief efforts.
Mann has also deputed ministers across flood-hit districts to oversee operations. Dr. Balbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, and Barinder Kumar Goyal will monitor statewide relief efforts, while Mahinder Bhagat and Hardeep Singh Mundian will remain stationed in Kapurthala. Laljit Singh Bhullar and Harbhajan Singh ETO have been tasked with Tarn Taran, while Dr. Baljit Kaur and Tarunpreet Singh Sond have been assigned to Fazilka.
