CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has issued directions to local administration and concerned departments' officials to maintain round-the-clock presence at the ground level to continue rescue and relief operations on a war footing in flood-affected areas. Simultaneously, all leaves for officers and staff has been cancelled.
This was stated by Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal and Food & Civil Supplies Minister Sh. Lal Chand Kataruchak during their visit to flood-affected areas today. The ministers conducted tours of Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts today.
Notably, the current situation stemed from continuous rainfall over the past two to three days in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, causing the Ranjit Sagar Dam to reach near maximum capacity. Water release from this overflowing dam has significantly elevated water levels in the Ravi River. Besides this, the Ujh and Jalalia rivers are experiencing unprecedented flow, submerging most villages in the Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial blocks. The Cabinet Ministers conducted comprehensive ground assessments of these affected areas in Pathankot today.
During the visit, Sh. Goyal stated that heavy rainfall has pushed dam water levels near capacity. He informed that the Ranjit Sagar Dam currently holds water at over 527 meters. Due to intense precipitation in upstream regions, approximately 1, 10, 000 cusecs of water was released from Ranjit Sagar Dam today, causing the Ravi River to flow at dangerous levels near the embankments of villages including Makhanpur, Pola, Taas and Bahadurpur.
He said that seven family members remain trapped in flood waters in Village Taas of Pathankot, with rescue operations proceeding on a war-footing to ensure their safety. Community kitchens have been established in schools at Taragarh and Narot Jaimal Singh villages. The Cabinet Minister added that rescue centers have been set up across multiple locations in Pathankot district including Kiri Khurd, Kathlour, Taragarh, Narot Jaimal Singh, Kharkhra Thuthowal, Khojki Chak, Bamial, Nangal, Pathankot, Bani Lodhi and Ferozepur Kalan.