Punjab, August 27, 2025 – The state of Punjab is facing an unprecedented flood threat as water levels in its major dams, including Pong, Bhakra, Ranjit Sagar, and Shahpur Kandi, surged past critical thresholds, forcing authorities to issue a red alert. Rising inflows, coupled with continuous heavy rains in upstream regions, have pushed dam capacities to dangerous levels, sparking fears of potential breaches and large-scale flooding across low-lying districts.
By Wednesday morning, Pong Dam had crossed its designed storage mark of 1,393 feet, triggering automatic spillage and heightening downstream vulnerability. Bhakra Dam, the lifeline of Punjab’s irrigation and power generation system, climbed alarmingly close to its maximum permissible level—barely nine feet short—prompting engineers to increase outflows to maintain structural safety. At Ranjit Sagar Dam, one of the state’s biggest reservoirs on the Ravi River, discharges crossed the 2 lakh cusec mark, flooding downstream channels and villages. Shahpur Kandi, though smaller in capacity, also reached dangerous levels, further compounding the crisis.
District administrations in Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, and parts of Doaba and Malwa were put on emergency footing. Disaster management teams increased round-the-clock embankment inspections, particularly near vulnerable riverbanks where breaches could inundate vast stretches of farmland and habitations. Sandbagging operations were intensified to fortify weak points along the Sutlej and Beas, while military and NDRF teams were kept on standby for rapid response.
Villages in Pathankot and Gurdaspur were among the first to experience forced evacuations as water levels rose in nearby rivulets and distributaries. Families were shifted to makeshift shelters in schools and community halls, with local gurdwaras also opening their doors to provide temporary accommodation. Border villages close to Pakistan were placed under high alert, as officials feared both agricultural and security complications if the Ravi and Sutlej breached containment points.
The state government activated 24-hour flood control rooms in Chandigarh and at district headquarters, coordinating closely with Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, both of which also face spillover threats due to shared river systems. Meteorological reports suggested that while rainfall had slightly reduced in some catchment areas, saturated soil and continuous dam releases meant the danger was far from over.
Experts have cautioned that if heavy rains resume in the next few days, Punjab could witness one of its worst floods in decades. “The system is under severe stress. Every reservoir is brimming, and there is very little cushion left. A fresh spell of rain could overwhelm embankments and trigger breaches,” warned a senior hydrology expert.
To reassure the public, the Punjab government announced full compensation for crop loss and property damage. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who has been personally monitoring the situation from flood-hit districts, promised that no family would be left unaided. Emergency medical teams were deployed to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases, while veterinary units were sent to assist farmers in safeguarding livestock.
For Punjab, a state already struggling with agrarian distress, the flood threat has deepened anxiety among rural households. Farmers in low-lying belts worry about standing paddy crops being wiped out, while urban residents brace for possible inundation of towns if riverbanks fail. As the red alert continues, all eyes are on the skies—and the fragile embankments holding back Punjab’s rivers.
