Punjab is grappling with one of its worst flood crises in decades, with the Bhakra Dam teetering just one foot below its maximum capacity, prompting urgent evacuation orders in Rupnagar. On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the district administration issued a critical alert, urging residents near the Sutlej River to relocate to safer areas or seek shelter in relief camps as water levels in the dam reached a precarious 1,678.97 feet, perilously close to its 1,680-foot limit.
The alarming rise in water levels follows heavy rainfall in the dam’s catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, with an inflow of 95,435 cusecs and an outflow of 73,459 cusecs recorded on Thursday morning. Rupnagar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Singh Walia warned that the water discharge could increase to 80,000–85,000 cusecs, heightening the risk of flooding in low-lying villages around Nangal and Anandpur Sahib. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies have been deployed to manage potential emergencies, with relief camps established to accommodate displaced residents.
The crisis extends beyond Bhakra, with the Pong Dam on the Beas River also exceeding its upper limit of 1,390 feet, reaching 1,394.51 feet. The dam recorded an inflow of 1,32,595 cusecs and an outflow of 91,167 cusecs, adding to the region’s flood woes. In Patiala, authorities issued a similar alert for villages near the Ghaggar River, where heavy rainfall has swollen water bodies, threatening further devastation.
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The floods, driven by swollen rivers like the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, as well as seasonal rivulets, have already claimed 37 lives and affected over 3.55 lakh people across Punjab. The agricultural sector has been hit hard, with crops on more than 1.75 lakh hectares destroyed, dealing a severe blow to farmers. Cabinet Minister Harjot Bains, who visited over two dozen flood-affected villages on Wednesday, personally oversaw evacuations along the Sutlej River, urging residents in Sri Anandpur Sahib to move to safety.
As Punjab battles this catastrophic deluge, intensified by additional heavy rains in the state, the administration is on high alert. The crisis underscores the urgent need for robust flood management strategies and infrastructure to mitigate the impact of such disasters. With relief efforts in full swing, the focus remains on saving lives and supporting affected communities as Punjab navigates this unprecedented challenge.
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