Flood Situation Grim in Panjab, Red Alert Sounded

On 26 Aug, predicting heavy rainfall, the India Meteorological Department issued red alerts for various districts in Panjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. In addition, in Panjab, the floods are due to delayed early release of water from Bhakra and Pong dams which collect water from rivers in the lower Himalayas. On 25 Aug, both dams released 38K cusecs of water in river Satluj and Beas. On 22 Aug the official estimate of flood inundated areas was 90K, unofficial at 150K acres. The next three days Panjab experienced a huge increase in rainfall. In Ferozepur and Fazilka, over 45 villages are waterlogged. Sukhjinder Singh, a farmer from Retewali Bhaini village says, 'We are reminded of the 2023 floods. This is not just nature’s fury, but a manmade situation.' The Patiala administration also sounded a flood alert, asking residents of over a dozen villages situated along the Ghaggar to stay vigilant. Both Tarn Taran and Ferozepur administrations are reeling under an acute workforce crunch. Jaskirat Singh from the Public Action Committee said the District Social Security Officer is vacant. Of the nine posts of Block Development Officers, only five are occupied. He added, Khadoor Sahib and Tarn Taran towns are also operating without a Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The Border Security Force has stepped up vigil along the India-Pakistan international border following inundation caused by Satluj floodwaters. On 24 Aug, the bridge on Jammu-Pathankot highway broke due to heavy rains in Jammu & Kashmir. The fury of river Beas has washed away parts of the Chandigarh-Manali highway. Social media is flooded with reels of ordinary people trying to build mud embankments. In Kot Buddha village, Tarn Taran, people built an embankment but the next day it was washed away. The Panjab government has declared schools’ closure and set up a Flood Control Centre in Jalandhar to monitor and coordinate relief. However, Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is in Tamil Nadu on invitation by his counterpart Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin to inaugurate a school Breakfast Scheme (earlier coverage).