Heavy rain in the Beas river catchment has kept the level of water at Pong Dam above the danger mark for the fourth straight day. The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has been forced to keep releasing water downstream.
At 9 am on Tuesday, the reservoir level stood at 1,390.84 feet, slightly above the danger mark of 1,390 feet. Officials said the inflow on Tuesday was 1,32,618 cusecs, up sharply from Monday’s 79,790 cusecs. This means the inflow rose by 52,828 cusecs in just 24 hours.
To ease the pressure, six turbines and spillway gates released 79,891 cusecs into the Beas river. This was less than Monday’s discharge of 1,09,920 cusecs. Out of the total release, 17,079 cusecs went through turbines and 62,812 cusecs passed through spillway gates. The outflow translated to 68,391 cusecs at Shahnehar barrage downstream, while the Mukerian Hydel Channel carried 11,500 cusecs.
BBMB officials said it had been raining over the catchment area, and with more inflow expected, the dam’s outflow will be adjusted based on storage and inflow levels. The Kangra district administration has already issued alerts in low-lying areas, warning residents and farmers of possible flooding of fields and houses close to the river.
The risk has grown because of widespread rain in the Beas river basin and catchment areas. As per the Irrigation and Public Health Department, Palampur recorded the heaviest rainfall at 102.8 mm in 24 hours, swelling local streams in the upper valley.
Shahpur and Nadaun got over 53 mm each. Harsar received 40.2 mm, Haripur 32 mm, Joginder Nagar 32 mm, and Nangal Chowk 32 mm. Other places also saw heavy showers — Bharwain and Dehargopipur 30 mm each, Guler 24.4 mm, Baijnath 24 mm, Nagrota Surian 22.2 mm, Ghamroor 21.6 mm, and Sujanpur 20.2 mm.
Officials said the continuous rain was directly adding to the rising inflows in the dam, making close monitoring essential.
Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa has directed disaster management teams, panchayats, and revenue officials to stay alert. Villagers in low-lying parts of Indora and Fatehpur subdivisions have been advised to avoid flooded fields and riverbanks.
Authorities said arrangements were in place to shift affected families to safe shelters if water levels rise further. With forecasts warning of more rain, authorities were keeping a close watch on both rainfall activity in the catchment and water levels in the reservouir.
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