Himachal Pradesh: Urgent rescue efforts launched as Pong Dam water release leaves 300 stranded in Kangra
Dharamshala, August 15: The picturesque landscapes of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district have turned into scenes of urgency as the Pong Dam's floodgates were opened, resulting in approximately 300 individuals finding themselves trapped within the Indora sub-division.
In response to this critical situation, Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal has taken swift action, seeking assistance from the Indian Air Force to execute a timely rescue operation for those stranded. To address the escalating crisis, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been dispatched to the area to extend their helping hands.
The individuals currently caught in the grip of this predicament reside in the Mand area of Indora, a location nestled within the riverbed of the mighty Sutlej. Unfortunately, with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) authorities necessitating the release of around 1 lakh cusecs of water from the Pong Dam, a substantial portion of the Mand region within the Indora sub-division has succumbed to inundation.
The situation's urgency has been exacerbated by the Pong Dam's water level, which has soared to its retaining capacity of 1,395 feet. The inflow of water remains stubbornly above 2 lakh cusecs, leaving the BBMB authorities with limited alternatives but to direct the surging waters downstream, which has precipitated this need for a rapid and well-coordinated rescue operation.
- With inputs from agencies
