Monthly Archives: August 2018

what a Photo shoot

AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said a permanent solution was needed to deal with floods in Sultanpur Lodhi, which had repeatedly been ravaged by nature’s fury over the years.

Sisodia is the first national AAP leader to visit flood-affected areas of the state. He said the state government was working earnestly and was ready to deal with the floods. He asked the Centre to rise above politics and extend help to the state.Sisodia visited flood-affected villages of Sultanpur Lodhi along with Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, AAP Sutanpur Lodhi halka in-charge Sajjan Singh Cheema and several others.

Sisodia said the entire AAP leadership, Punjab ministers and MLAs, Seechewal and his volunteers were offering their services to help the flood-hit.He said the flood relief work was a testimony to the spirit of Punjab. Seechewal raised the issue of debt-ridden farmers of the region with Sisodia, who assured him that he would take up the matter with the state government.

Accompanied by Seechewal and Cheema, the former Delhi Deputy CM went to Baupu Jadid and Sangra villages on a boat. He stayed in the flood-affected areas for an hour.

Sisodia said, “It’s a natural disaster; it’s difficult to say when the water will recede. The weatherman has issued a high alert for the next two-three days. However, the state government, the party leaderhsip and volunteers are doing their best to reach out to those affected.”Sisodia said, “During this natural calamity, we are seeing how people are helping each other. ‘Isko Punjabiyat kehte hain, ye Punjab ka spirit hai (this is Punjabiyat and the spirit of Punjab).”

Sisodia said the government was committed to taking steps to prevent repeat of floods and would seek guidance from Seechewal in this regard.On aid from the Centre, Sisodia said, “Everyone has chipped in. I am sure the Centre will also rise above politics and extend help to the state.”

Sisodia and Kejriwal must leave Punjab and allow CM to work not control or overshadow him .They are avoidable burden on Punjab Revenue

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.

Evacuation in Ropar’s Bela Villages as Bhakra Dam Nears Capacity

September 3, 2025 11:29 am

The district administration has begun evacuating residents from several Bela villages as the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is set to release 75,000 cusecs of water into the Sutlej due to high inflows into the Bhakra Dam. By this morning, the dam’s water level had reached 1,678 feet—just two feet below the maximum permitted level of 1,680 feet. Inflows into the dam were recorded at 86,822 cusecs, while outflows stood at 65,042 cusecs. Villages, including Harsa Bela, Bela Ramgarh, Sensowal, Singhpura, and others are being evacuated as many have already lost road connectivity. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has urged residents to move to safer areas, assuring that shelter arrangements have been made in government facilities. Meanwhile, the Pong Dam is also under pressure, with water levels exceeding its optimum capacity by three feet.

Rains trigger widespread landslides in Mandi district, over 290 roads blocked

Panchkula schools to remain closed on Wednesday due to heavy rain

September 3, 2025 10:58 am

As heavy rain continues in Tricity, the Panchkula administration has announced the closure of all schools on Wednesday. “In view of the ongoing heavy rainfall in Panchkula district and keeping in mind the safety of students, a holiday is hereby declared today, 03.09.2025 (Wednesday), for all government and private schools and Anganwadi centres in the district,” the notification issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, states. The continuous downpour has led to massive waterlogging, damage to public property and major traffic snarls on most of the roads and busy junctions across Tricity.

Ludhiana’s Field Ganj residents struggle with waterlogging, garbage overflow

September 3, 2025 10:52 am

In Ludhiana, despite no heavy rain in the past 24 hours, just light drizzles, residents in the Field Ganj area continue to suffer due to persistent waterlogging and lack of civil response. The situation remains grim in street number 5-9, where excess water has yet to be drained from the narrow lanes. According to residents, no suction machines have been deployed to clean the sewerages, leaving residents to manage the situation themselves.

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.

Tribune News Service

Amid anxious moments after reports that the Sutlej was set to get double the amount inflow from Tuesday afternoon, the day passed off largely peacefully with most embankments from Nawanshahr to Phillaur and further towards Shahkot largely remaining safe.

By this afternoon, the inflow had touched 1.35 lakh cusecs at Gidderpindi gauge from 70,000 cusecs yesterday. The Sutlej waters had reached the level of Gidderpindi railway track, touching its lower surface. Following the reports, railway officials decided to cancel two trains between Gidderpindi and Makhu, short-terminate five trains and short-originate three passenger trains.

The flow of water in the Sutlej remained fast. Residents of Dhingarpur village of Balachaur tehsil in Nawanshahr district had started gathering in large numbers along the dhussi bundh since last night amid reports that the embankment had gone week. They spent the entire night filling sandbags and stacking them into crates, which were then placed along the bundh to prevent any breach. The operation continued till this morning untill the level of river water came down.

DC, Nawanshahr, Ankurjeet Singh also visited this spot to oversee the situation and assure people that the situation was largely under control. He also visited Bela Tajowal, another hotspot at the dhussi bundh in Balachaur. He reviewed the water flow in the river and said the water level had receded to 65,000 cusecs, which was nearly 1.25 lakh cusecs last night.

Ankurjeet also mentioned that officials and villagers were continuously working to ensure the safety of the bundh. He said the teams were strengthening the embankments on a war-footing at Talwandi Sibu, Dariyapur and Burj Tehal Dass under the supervision of SDMs.

Similarly, there were some anxious moments for the residents of Sanghowal village too. Falling between Phillaur and Nurmahal, residents of this village of Nakodar said a temporary embankment that they had constructed to safeguard their village had been washed away. Congress leader Dr Navjot Dahiya and AAP MLA Inderjit Kaur Mann had reached the spot to ensure that work remained on and the village was safe.

MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, addressing people gathered at the embankment, said the Sutlej had a carrying capacity of 2,00,000 cusecs. Seechewal warned that if heavy rain continues in Himachal Pradesh and additional water is released from the Bhakra Dam, the situation could worsen.

Executive Engineer (XEN) of the Drainage Department Sirtaj Singh stated that the Sutlej water is still flowing below the embankment. He assured that the embankment’s strength and monitoring are being constantly checked by the department’s SDO and JE.

Catastrophic floods and landslides now frequently devastate mountain slopes, washing away human habitations, orchards, crop fields, water mills and even damaging hydropower projects

Himachal Pradesh, often called Dev Bhoomi — the abode of Gods — is reeling under the fury of nature. Known for its pristine landscapes, cultural richness and favourable climate, the state has long been a favourite destination for Indian and international tourists alike. Its thriving fruit orchards and off-season vegetable economy not only sustain local livelihoods but also add to its charm as a year-round tourist attraction, except for the monsoon slowdown. Interestingly, even during the rains, regions such as Pangi, Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur remain accessible, while pilgrimages like the Manimahesh Yatra, Shri Khand Mahadev Yatra and Kinnar Kailash Yatra draw devotees in large numbers between Janmashtami and Radha Ashtami.

Yet, in recent years, climate change has unleashed disasters of unprecedented intensity. Catastrophic floods and landslides now frequently devastate mountain slopes, washing away human habitations, orchards, crop fields, water mills and even damaging hydropower projects. Precious lives, property and livelihoods continue to be lost. While cloudbursts are not new to the Himalayas, their frequency and scale in the last few years have been alarmingly high. Last year, the year before and now again, the state has witnessed nature’s fury on a terrifying scale — beyond the imagination of both citizens and planners.

Reports suggest that cloudbursts have struck across Himachal — from Chamba to Nahan — but the devastation in the Janjehli-Thunag area of Mandi district is particularly alarming. For the second consecutive year, this region has suffered heavily: 69 lives lost, hundreds injured, livestock perished and around 400 homes destroyed. With road networks crippled and communication lines snapped, relief has become a daunting challenge. Essential supplies — food, clothing, medicines — are now being air-dropped with the help of Army helicopters, while NDRF and SDRF teams work tirelessly on the ground.

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This raises urgent questions: Why is nature’s fury intensifying each year? What has gone wrong with our approach to mountain development and planning? Is reckless road construction, unplanned urban expansion or indiscriminate hydropower development at fault? The Himalayan temperature is rising faster than the global average and factors such as methane emissions from hydropower reservoirs (eight times more potent than carbon dioxide) may also be aggravating the crisis.

Equally worrying is the unscientific approach to road building — reckless dumping of debris, improper rainwater channelisation, steep slope cutting and poor stabilisation work — all of which destabilise fragile mountain slopes. The obsession with four-lane highways needs rethinking. Alternatives like ropeways for mainstream transport, improved public transport and the adoption of electric vehicles could ease tourist traffic and reduce ecological strain.

The way forward requires political will. Committees of ecologists, geologists, meteorologists and technocrats with ecological expertise must be empowered to recommend scientifically sound, sustainable strategies. Only then can Himachal Pradesh — and the fragile Himalayas at large — hope to balance development with ecological preservation, turning the much-talked-about but seldom-practiced idea of sustainable development into a lived reality.

(The writer is president of the Himalaya Niti Abhiyaan)

Tribune News Service

Crops on around 1,450 acres in 16 village have been affected after water entered the fields falling alongside the Ghaggar, said Deputy Commissioner Preet Yadav. No breach has been reported in the banks.The rising water has claimed one life.

At Jul Heri village, Sita Ram said although no breach had been reported, water was flowing over the banks and entering the nearby fields. A similar situation was witnessed at Kami Khurd, Chamaru, Sarala and Untsar villages.

The Ghaggar level had touched the danger mark near Sarala Kalan village.

The Tangri, which covers much of the area in Haryana and crosses through parts of Patiala, is flowing 1.7 feet above the danger mark of 13.7 feet, followed by the Markanda, which is flowing at 21.2 feet, while its danger mark is 22 feet.

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.