Breaches in Beas embankments, schools closed in four districts

Floodwaters from the Beas river entered agricultural fields near Motla, Haler Janardhan, Sanial, Kolian and Mehtabpur villages in Mukerian subdivision on Sunday evening after heavy rain in the Chakki Khad catchment of Pathankot led to a surge of water into the Beas, causing the river to overflow from its embankments.

According to officials, the Pong Dam discharge into Shah Nehar Barrage was about 59,000 cusecs on Monday afternoon, against an inflow of 1.58 lakh cusecs. The dam’s water level had touched 1,385.48 feet against an upper limit capacity of 1,390 feet.

Standing paddy, sugarcane and other crops in Gandhowal, Rara Mand, Talhi, Salempur, Abdullapur, Mewa Miani and Fatta Kulla villages remained submerged. Residents of Mukerian villages expressed relief as water receded, though they remained worried about the possibility of renewed flooding.

Officials confirmed multiple breaches in embankments near Motla and Mehtabpur villages.

“Around 100-foot-wide breaches occurred at two locations each near both villages due to the heavy flow of water,” said Sukhpreet Singh, Sub Divisional Officer (Drainage and Mining), Mukerian.

Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Monday visited flood-affected areas of Mukerian, including Mehtabpur and Kolian villages, to take stock of the situation.

He was accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, MLAs Jasbir Singh Raja Gill and Karamvir

Singh Ghumman, Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain and local leaders. Goyal said the state government was standing firmly with the people in this crisis and assured that all losses to crops and property would be compensated.

He added that different cabinet ministers had been deputed to monitor relief measures across affected districts.

The district administration of Hoshiarpur on Monday ordered closure of all schools on August 26 and 27, while the Pathankot, Jalandhar and Kapurthala administrations announced a holiday for all educational institutions on August 26 in view of heavy rainfall forecast.

District Magistrate Ashika Jain announced that all government and private schools in Hoshiarpur district will remain shut on August 26 and 27 (Tuesday and Wednesday). “Several roads leading to schools have been submerged due to continuous rainfall, making commuting unsafe for students and staff. The decision has been taken purely in the interest of their safety,” she said.

A central flood control room has been set up at the Circuit House in Jalandhar to tackle any possible flood situation in Punjab and to ensure immediate relief in the affected areas, officials said on Monday.

The control room will function round-the-clock. The main objective of this initiative is to further strengthen flood prevention and management, an official statement said.

The state government has also issued an emergency helpline number – 0181-2240064.