Punjab Flood Crisis: Ranjit Sagar Dam Hits Danger Level!
The state of Punjab is grappling with a severe flood crisis as a result of incessant, heavy rainfall in its upper catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The situation has turned particularly grim as the Ranjit Sagar Dam (also known as the Thein Dam), a critical piece of infrastructure on the Ravi River, has reached and even exceeded its danger mark, forcing authorities to initiate massive water releases. This has caused the Ravi and its tributaries to swell dangerously, leading to widespread flooding in downstream areas, particularly in the Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts. In a swift response to the escalating crisis, the Punjab government has ordered all schools in the state to remain closed from August 27 to August 30, prioritizing the safety of students and staff.
Dam Levels Breach Critical Thresholds
The core of the current crisis lies in the unprecedented surge of water into Punjab’s major dams. The Ranjit Sagar Dam, which has a maximum permissible water level of 527.91 meters, has swelled to over 528 meters, a clear indication of a dangerous overflow. This increase is a direct consequence of a phenomenal amount of rainfall in the catchment areas. In the last 24 hours alone, Punjab has received an astonishing 1,643% excess rainfall, with 54mm of rain against a normal of just 3.1mm. This has left dam authorities with no option but to release large volumes of water to prevent a catastrophic failure.
On Tuesday, August 26, approximately 1.1 lakh cusecs of water were released from the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The outflow is expected to be even higher today, putting additional pressure on the Ravi River system. Other major dams in the state, including the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej and the Pong Dam on the Beas, are also facing a similar situation, with water levels either dangerously close to or exceeding their maximum capacity. The Pong Dam, for instance, has already crossed its full capacity, touching 1,393.13 feet against a maximum level of 1,390 feet, leading to a discharge of over 94,000 cusecs.
The Impact on Pathankot and Gurdaspur
The massive water discharge from the Ranjit Sagar Dam has had an immediate and devastating impact on villages situated along the banks of the Ravi River. In Pathankot, villages in the Narot Jaimal Singh and Bamial blocks are now submerged, with water flowing at dangerous levels. The Ujh and Jalalia rivers, tributaries of the Ravi, are also in spate, compounding the problem.
Reports from the ground paint a grim picture:
- Widespread Flooding: Villages such as Makhanpur, Pola, Taas, and Bahadurpur have been inundated, with floodwaters entering homes and submerging vast tracts of agricultural land. The crops, a primary source of livelihood for many residents, have been completely destroyed.
- Rescue and Evacuation: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Army, and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed to conduct large-scale rescue and evacuation operations. Helicopters have been used to rescue stranded villagers, including a family of seven from Taas village. Boats are also being used to reach isolated areas and evacuate people to safer locations.
- Infrastructure Damage: The floodwaters have caused breaches in river embankments (known as Dhussi Bundhs), further worsening the situation. The Pathankot-Jammu National Highway has also been shut after a key bridge on the Ravi River was damaged, disrupting connectivity between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
Government Response and Relief Measures
The Punjab government has activated a full-fledged disaster response mechanism to tackle the crisis on a war footing. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has formed a flood management committee to oversee relief and rescue operations. All government officials and employees have had their leave canceled to ensure maximum on-ground presence.
- School Closures: The most significant public measure taken so far is the closure of all government and private schools across the state from August 27 to 30. This decision was made to ensure the safety of students and to free up school buildings for use as relief camps for the displaced.
- Relief Camps and Community Kitchens: Relief camps have been set up in multiple locations, including schools in Taragarh and Narot Jaimal Singh in Pathankot. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also stepped in, arranging shelter and community kitchens (langar) at historical gurdwaras to provide food and shelter to the affected.
- Compensation: The government has also announced that a special Girdwari (revenue survey) will be conducted to assess the damages to crops and infrastructure, and compensation will be provided to the affected farmers and residents.
The flood situation is expected to remain critical as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more heavy rain for the next few days in the catchment areas of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. This will likely lead to further increases in water levels in the dams and rivers, necessitating continued rescue and relief operations. While the response from authorities has been swift, the long-term recovery for the flood-affected communities will be a long and challenging process
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