All 4 flood gates of Bhakra Dam opened; CM Mann to chair cabinet meeting from hospital
Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Punjab continues to grapple with severe floods as 23 districts of the state remain affected. More than 3.87 lakh people are struggling with floodwater, while 46 lives have already been lost in 12 districts. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is currently admitted in Fortis Hospital Mohali due to ill health, will chair a crucial cabinet meeting today through video conferencing. The meeting comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the state.
Bhakra Dam Situation
The water level in Govind Sagar Lake of Bhakra Dam stood at 1677.39 feet on Monday, about 2.60 feet below the danger mark of 1680 feet. Despite this, authorities have opened all four floodgates up to seven feet, releasing 66,863 cusecs of water through turbines and gates. From Nangal Dam, 9,000 cusecs each is being discharged into the Nangal Hydel Canal and Anandpur Hydel Canal, while 47,000 cusecs is flowing into the Sutlej River.
Weather Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued no alert for Punjab today. Similar weather conditions are expected to prevail over the next five days, with normal rainfall likely in most regions except for some Malwa districts.
Impact of Floods
Floodwaters have submerged 1,996 villages across the state. Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Barnala, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Patiala, and Mansa are among the worst-hit districts. A total of 21,854 people have been evacuated to safer areas, while 219 relief camps are functioning, sheltering 7,377 people.
So far, 1,74,454 hectares of crops have been damaged, with Gurdaspur alone accounting for losses on more than 40,000 hectares. Alongside human casualties, a large number of livestock have also been affected, though exact figures are awaited.
Education and Public Life
After remaining shut for 12 days, schools and colleges across Punjab reopened today. However, in flood-affected areas, educational institutions will continue to remain closed until further orders. In Patiala alone, 43 schools have been directed to stay shut.
Voices of Support
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan expressed concern over Punjab’s flood crisis during his show Bigg Boss and assured that he would help in every possible way. Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh also voiced his grief over the situation, while cricketer Yuvraj Singh praised Amritsar DC Sakshi Sahni for her tireless relief efforts, saying that such officers inspire courage in testing times.