The district administration and rescue teams have placed flood-affected villages on high alert again after India released additional water into the Sutlej on Monday. Officials said the next two days are critical, and all efforts are being made to manage potential emergencies.
Although water levels in the Sutlej receded to just over 100,000 cusecs, the river remains in exceptional flood. Crops in 10 downstream villages, including Fatohiwala, Chohriwala, Wazirpur, Kujian, Nooriwala, Kharaipar, Aloanna, Chhabar, Bhadian, and Usmanwala, were submerged after the Jalaldinwala embankment was breached. Upstream villages could face flooding if the Talwar post embankment fails.
Police at Talwar post are restricting access due to the rising risk of a severe water surge. The district administration has set up camps near the post, but cracks in the embankment have raised concerns. Plans are underway to relocate the camps to safer locations.
On Monday, water discharge at Ganda Singh headworks was 240,000 cusecs, down from a recent peak of 385,000 cusecs as water spread across villages, damaging several embankments. Over the past seven days, the river has affected more than 72 villages.
So far, around 70,000 people and 169,000 livestock have been evacuated. Rescue teams saved two families in Kothi Fateh Muhammad, Kanganpur, after their boat suffered engine failure. Tragically, four people have drowned, including Abdul Salam, 30, and Muhammad Arshad, 18.
Meanwhile, water levels in the Ravi River at Head Balloki have dropped to 162,290 cusecs from a peak of 225,000 cusecs.
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