More than 3, people have been rescued or moved to safer places in Punjab as many areas were inundated following the release of excess water from Bhakra and Pong Dams on Wednesday.
A maximum of 2, people were evacuated from 25 Bet area villages in Mukerian and Dasuya subdivisions were inundated after excess water was released from the Pong Dam. Residents of Mehtabpur village, which is worst hit by floods, said their houses were under 4 feet of water. The Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej and the Pong Dam on the Beas βboth in Himachal Pradesh βare brimming after heavy rains in their respective catchment areas.
Floodgates at both dams were opened two days ago, with 1. Excess water released from the Pong dam wreaked havoc in several villages in Mukerian and Dasuya sub-divisions. Around 25 villages situated in the Bet area have been affected by floodwater. The district administration has deployed national and state disaster management teams to rescue people.
The situation is no better in other villages situated along the Beas. Due to a breach in the dhussi bandh, water entered Jagatpur, Daduwal, Purana Shala and other villages. Rara, Fatta Kulla and Miani villages near Tanda are also submerged.
Boats have been pressed into service to rescue trapped villagers. Deputy commissioner Komal Mittal claimed that over 2, people had been rescued so far and shifted to relief camps. Mittal said the evacuation work in about 15 villages is still underway and around 1, people have been sent to relief camps. The relief camps have been set up in. The Mukerian-Gurdaspur road was closed for traffic as it was submerged in flood water. The floodwater entered many villages in Rupnagar district, forcing the district administration and NDRF to evacuate nearly persons from villages.
