Worsening flood conditions in Punjab following the release of vast water volumes from Bhakra and Pong dams

Monsoon Wreaks Havoc in Punjab: Landslides, Floods, and Evacuations

Heavy rainfall has been battering several regions of Punjab over the past several days, leading to a series of disasters. The state is currently experiencing massive floods caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers and seasonal rivulets.

In Mandi's Jangambag area, a landslide has claimed six lives and left one person missing. Widespread landslides have also blocked over 290 roads in Mandi district. Similarly, a landslide struck a residential area in Kullu district's Akhara Bazaar, leaving two persons feared trapped under the debris.

The floodgates of Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh have been opened a record ninth time this monsoon season due to incessant rain in the catchment area. In Panchkula, all schools have been closed due to heavy rain.

The affected villages on the Right Bank (R/S) include Mehmodpur Rudki, Devinagar, Harigarh, Rohar Jagir, Lelan Jagir, Dudhangujran, Adaltiwala, Maghar Sahib. On the Left Bank (L/S), villages such as Mohalgarh, Khansa, Rattakhera, Aujan, Khatauli, Ganeshpur, Kharabgarh, Bibipur, Jodhpur, Budhmor, Sadikpur Biran, have also been impacted.

The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills has been suspended for nine days due to heavy rain, with the base camp Katra recording a rainfall of over 200 mm, the highest in the Jammu region.

The floods have claimed 30 lives and impacted over 3.5 lakh people across Punjab. In response, the India Meteorological Department has issued red alert warnings for several districts across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest and eastern Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.

Evacuation is underway in several Bela villages in Ropar district due to the imminent release of 75,000 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Dam. At 6 am, the water level in the Bhakra dam was 1,677.84 feet, below its maximum capacity of 1,680 feet. Officials have increased the water discharge from 65,000 cusecs to 75,000 cusecs from the dam, which may impact villages in the Nangal area.

The Yamuna level in Delhi continues to rise, causing concern for the capital city. In Ludhiana, residents continue to suffer from waterlogging and garbage overflow despite no heavy rain in the past 24 hours.

Despite these challenges, there seems to be no official visit by a Union Minister to Punjab on September 4, 2025, to address the flood situation. The Patiala district administration has issued an alert for the residents of villages near the Ghaggar river due to heavy rain in its catchment areas.

As the monsoon season continues, authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders to ensure safety.

Worsening flood conditions in Punjab following the release of vast water volumes from Bhakra and Pong dams