Monthly Archives: August 2018

Dipender Manta

Continuous heavy rain and fresh snowfall have disrupted normal life in Lahaul and Spiti district, leaving the region cut off from the rest of Himachal Pradesh. Several key roads have been blocked due to landslides, flash floods and snow accumulation, severely affecting transportation and power supply across the valley.

The district has been witnessing relentless rainfall for the past three days. As a result, temperatures have dipped sharply. Higher reaches have been blanketed in snow. The strategic Kunzum Pass, located at an altitude of 14,931 feet on the Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu highway, received fresh snowfall of over 23 cm. The accumulation has completely halted vehicular movement between Gramphu and Losar, leaving commuters stranded and cutting access to Spiti valley.

Similarly, the Darcha-Shinkula-Padum road remains blocked due to flash floods in the Zanskar valley of Union Territory Ladakh. The Manali-Leh highway is also closed at multiple points. A flash flood at Pagal Nala damaged a temporary bridge, snapping connectivity. Beyond Darcha, landslides have been reported at various locations, further obstructing the route. In addition, the Sansari-Killar-Thirot-Tandi road, the lifeline to the remote Pangi region, is impassable beyond Udaipur due to multiple landslides.

With all key roads blocked, Lahaul and Spiti district is effectively isolated. While efforts are being made to restore connectivity, the situation has triggered a crisis for local farmers. The region’s vegetable growers, particularly those cultivating high-value exotic crops like cauliflower and broccoli, are facing mounting losses.

Ramesh Kumar Rulba, former chairman of Zila Parishad Lahaul and Spiti, expressed deep concern over the plight of farmers. “Our farmers are in shock. Cauliflower, broccoli, and other vegetables are ready for harvest, but with roads blocked, there is no way to transport the produce to markets. The crops are beginning to rot in the fields,” he said.

He urged the government to take immediate steps to clear roads and explore alternative means, such as airlifting produce, to save farmers from financial ruin.

Depts to repair infra on war-footing; telcos told to ensure seamless connectivity

Ruchika Khanna Tribune News Service

All 23 Punjab districts were declared flood-hit on Tuesday by the state government, which activated emergency responses under the Disaster Management Act, 2025.

Till Monday, 12 districts were affected by the worst-ever floods witnessed in decades. In an order issued by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, deputy commissioners have been empowered to act on their own in case of any threatening disaster situation and be prepared for emergency.

19,600People rescued

Around 1,400 villages hit and standing crops on 4 lakh acres submerged under floodwater

The Public Works, Water Resources and Power Departments have been instructed to start repairs of their infrastructure on a war-footing.

Telecom operators have been instructed to ensure mobile and landline connectivity while officers instructed to ensure smooth movement of people and essential services in their respective areas.

Even as the situation in flood-ravaged Punjab is yet to be assessed by central teams, 30 deaths have been reported in the state. The floods have affected close to 3.55 lakh people till date. Around 19,600 persons have been evacuated from flood-affected areas, including 1,400 villages.

Standing crops on over 4 lakh acres have submerged under floodwaters.

Both Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann toured flood affected areas to oversee relief and rescue operations on Tuesday, as civil administration and rescue teams from the Army, Air Force, NDRF and the BSF braced for another spell of heavy rainfall predicted for Wednesday and Thursday.

Till date, 171 relief camps have been set up. As many as 5,167 persons have been shifted there. The rains in the catchment areas, located upstream of the Ravi and Beas in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, led to the rivers swelling once again.

The water flow in the Ravi at Ujh barrage increased from 7,474 cusecs this morning to 52,341 cusecs in the evening.

A little further downstream of the Ravi at Dharamkot, the gauge at 4.63 lakh cusecs is still inaccessible as water flow continues to be much higher.

Even in the Beas, the water flow at the Chakki bank increased from 1,910 cusecs to 8,400 cusecs by evening. At Dhilwan in Sultanpur Lodhi, the water flow was recorded at 2.04 lakh cusecs, having receded slightly since morning. The Sutlej water flow declined at Ropar. It was flowing at 1.02 lakh cusecs in the morning and came down to 71,486 cusecs in the evening.

The water flow recorded at Harike this evening was 2.93 lakh cusecs. Harike is the place where the Beas and Sutlej converge.

Meanwhile, the water level in the Pong Dam, built on the Beas, was recorded at 1,391 feet, above the danger mark of 1,390 feet. At the Bhakra Dam reservoir, it neared the danger mark of 1,680 feet and was recorded at 1,677.32 feet.

The inflows in both these dams, as well as at the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The highest inflow of 1.71 lakh cusecs was recoded at the Ranjit Sagar Dam, built on the Ravi.

Amid ongoing heavy rain in several states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest and eastern Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

The updated nowcast suggests moderate to intense spells of rain in these regions over the next three hours, posing risks of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging.

According to the IMD, districts under red alert in Jammu and Kashmir include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. In Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are under red alert; while in Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan are under similar warnings. Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar are also under the same warning.

Yamuna level in Delhi continues to rise, evacuation underway

September 3, 2025 10:04 am

The Yamuna River level was recorded at 206.83 metres at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) on Wednesday at 8 am, officials said. As the river level is expected to rise further, authorities have issued a flood warning, forecasting the water level to reach around 206.90 metres. “As per current indications, the water level by 7 am on September 3, 2025, is likely to be 206.90 metres, and thereafter, the water level is likely to rise,” the flood advisory issued on Tuesday evening had said. PTI

Chandigarh rain: Sukhna Lake floodgates open a record ninth time this monsoon

September 3, 2025 9:29 am

Following incessant rain in the catchment area, the Chandigarh Administration opened two of the three floodgates of Sukhna Lake this morning after the water level of the lake crossed the danger mark of 1,163 feet. The excess water of the lake was released into the Ghaggar river through the Sukhna Choe. According to officials, one floodgate was opened around 7.30 am and the second gate was opened around 9 am up to the height of three inches. It was the ninth time the floodgates were opened this monsoon season.

6 dead, one missing after devastating landslide hits Mandi’s Jangambag area

September 3, 2025 9:21 am

A devastating landslide struck the Jangambag area in the Sundernagar subdivision of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, claiming six lives — including four members of a single family — and leaving one person missing, officials said on Wednesday. The sudden landslip buried two residential houses and also trapped a passerby on Tuesday evening. Mandi SP Sakshi Verma said residents heard loud rumbling noises moments before the hillside collapsed, engulfing homes located at the base. “A massive rescue operation was launched immediately after the incident,” said the SP, adding that all six bodies were recovered from the rubble by late Tuesday night despite difficult conditions.