Kapurthala Issues Evacuation Alert as Beas Floods Rise
Kapurthala on high alert as Beas River floods intensify.
The Kapurthala district administration issued a critical alert urging residents in the Sultanpur Lodhi area to evacuate immediately to safer locations as the Beas River’s water level surged to a staggering 2.35 lakh cusecs, driven by relentless rainfall in its catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal emphasized that protecting lives is the top priority, with the administration mobilizing all resources to ensure safety amid worsening flood conditions.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in Kapurthala, exacerbating the crisis. Villages in Sultanpur Lodhi and Bholath have been hit hardest, with floodwaters submerging homes, farmlands, and infrastructure. The Beas River, along with the Sutlej and Ravi, has been in spate due to incessant rains, affecting multiple districts across Punjab, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, and Amritsar. Reports indicate that nearly 30,000 acres of paddy crops in Kapurthala alone have been inundated, with farmers facing devastating losses reminiscent of the 2023 floods.
Rescue operations are in full swing, with the Army and Punjab’s State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) working tirelessly to evacuate residents from low-lying areas. Motorboats and amphibian vehicles have been deployed to relocate thousands, including vulnerable groups like a pregnant woman recently rescued in Kapurthala. Relief camps are operational, providing shelter, food, clean water, medical supplies, and livestock fodder. Veterinary teams are also assisting, ensuring the health of animals stranded in floodwaters.
Also Read: Body Recovered from Beas Amid Punjab Floods
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) reported that the Pong Dam, upstream of the Beas, is at a critical 1,391 feet, just above its danger mark of 1,390 feet, necessitating the release of 1 lakh cusecs of water, further intensifying downstream flooding. Kapurthala’s administration is maintaining 24/7 vigilance, with Deputy Commissioner Panchal personally overseeing relief efforts in Sultanpur Lodhi. Environmentalist and MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has been leading community efforts to reinforce breached embankments, though breaches at places like Aahli Kalan have worsened the situation.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has formed a high-powered committee to coordinate relief across affected districts, with ministers assigned to monitor Kapurthala and other regions. The state has appealed to Haryana and Rajasthan to accept additional water releases to mitigate flooding. With the weather department issuing an orange alert for heavy rain on August 31, authorities are bracing for further challenges, urging residents to follow evacuation orders and avoid riverbanks to prevent tragedies like the recent drowning of a 40-year-old man in the Beas.
Also Read: J&K on High Alert as Omar Abdullah Battles Devastating Rains
