Ghaggar nears danger mark; 20 Patiala villages on high alert amid heavy rain in Himachal
PTC Web Desk: Authorities in Punjab’s Patiala district have placed 20 villages on high alert after the Ghaggar river swelled dangerously on Wednesday afternoon, following intense rainfall in Himachal Pradesh over the past two days.
Residents living along the riverbanks in Patiala, Rajpura, and Dudhan Sadhan subdivisions have been urged by the district administration to evacuate to safer locations. Officials are closely monitoring the situation as the water level continues to rise.
“We have issued a warning in low-lying areas adjacent to the Ghaggar river. The rise in water level is due to heavy downpour in the river’s catchment zones,” said Rajpura SDM Avikesh Gupta.
The district drainage department reported that the river was flowing at 9 feet around noon—just one foot short of the official danger mark of 10 feet. A senior official stated that the river may rise further in the coming hours, potentially worsening the flooding in Mohali and Patiala districts. Several road bridges have already been submerged in nearby villages due to the overflow.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Haryana is also on alert after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow warning for Panchkula, Ambala, and Yamunanagar districts. Ambala Deputy Commissioner Ajay Tomar confirmed that the irrigation and revenue departments have been put on standby. “The situation remains under control, but we are keeping a close watch on the Ghaggar's water level,” he said.
Authorities across both states are preparing for possible emergency evacuations and are urging people in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant.
- PTC NEWS
