A day after the surge in Tibet’s Pareechu river triggered alarm bells along the Sutlej, the Centre today said that water levels are back to normal and the ‘‘worst is over’’.According to Home Secretary V K Duggal, the rise in levels was caused by a combination of factors—melting snow, heavy rains in upper reaches and a breach in the rocks that had cut off the Pareechu in the Himalayas, forming a lake there late last year.‘‘Because of this breach, water accumulation in the artificial lake on the Pareechu river will be within normal levels negating the possibility of future flash floods,’’ said Duggal.Water levels in the lake on Pareechu has come down to 12 mts from the previous 50 mts, he said. ‘‘The worst is over. Water released into the Sutlej yesterday is now reaching the Govind Sagar lake in Punjab,’’ he said.A Central team will reach Himachal Pradesh to assess the damage created by the flash floods and decide on the compensation package, he said, adding that Leo, Nobli and Powary villages were the most affected.Duggal said that the Army will help in rebuilding the eight bridges that were washed away. They will be up in 10 days, he said.‘‘There is no cause for concern and all measures are being taken to ensure supply of essentials and medicines to affected people,’’ he said. Duggal added that the Health Ministry has been asked to meet any possible disease outbreak.
