Bhakra to release 85k cusecs; Ropar admn issues evacuation advisory

Ropar: The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is set to release 80,000 to 85,000 cusecs of water from the Bhakra reservoir, intensifying the flood threat for downstream villages in Punjab.The decision comes as the dam's water level has reached a critical 1,678.97 feet, just one foot below the danger mark of 1,680 feet. The BBMB has already opened all four floodgates by eight feet to manage an inflow of 95,435 cusecs. As of Thursday, the total downstream flow has reached nearly 70,000 cusecs, raising alarm in riverside villages. The outflow increased from 65,000 to 75,000 cusecs on Wednesday. Ropar district authorities have issued evacuation advisories for Nangal, Anandpur Sahib, and several low-lying villages. Roads in these areas, including Harsa Bela, Bela Ramgarh, and Singhpura, are submerged, cutting off local connectivity. Rescue operations are under way, with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and local panchayats urging residents to move to higher ground or designated relief centres. According to officials, 15 villages, including Bela Dhiani (uppper and lower), Bela Ramgarh, Bela Shiv Singh, Sainsowal, Algran, Dabi Kheda (lower), Taraf Majari, Taraf Majara, Bhetton, Singhpura, Plassy, Kaitran, and Palsadi, have been put on high alert. Nangal sub-divisional magistrate Sachin Pathak said that 187 people have already been evacuated and moved to relief camps. The administration has set up relief shelters at locations, including Government Senior Secondary School Bhallan, (500-people capacity), Government Middle School Bhanam, (200-people capacity), Singhpura Plassi Community Hall and dairy (100-people) and DAV School Brahmpur, (500 people). With Punjab already declared a disaster-affected state, all schools, colleges, and universities have been ordered to remain closed until Sept 7. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for several districts, warning of continued heavy rainfall. Water levels at the Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams have also exceeded safety limits. An emergency meeting of the BBMB technical committee was held on Thursday. Officials from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir were among the attendees. Meanwhile, cabinet minister Harjot Bains announced that his residences in Gambhirpur and Nangal are open to the public for shelter, food, and medicine. Efforts are also being made to prioritise communication infrastructure to ensure an uninterrupted emergency response. MSID:: 123691766 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Teacher's Day wishes, messages and Quotes !