Title - Rail, road traffic disrupted as rain continues in Himachal Pradesh

DHARAMSHALA: Constant rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has caused massive destruction in the lower parts of the state, with rural areas and villages being the worst affected. Rail and bus services have been crippled in the area with most of the rivers in spate causing damage to bridges. The meteorological department has announced heavy rainfall after August 12.The Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow rail line has been rendered useless for at least two weeks due to landslides along the track, a railway official said on Sunday. The Pathankot-Mandi national highway also witnessed landslides at many places, which halted traffic on the route for hours, causing traffic jams.About 100 families in Kandrori area were evacuated and provided temporary shelter and food as gushing flood waters ravaged the villages after release of 60,000 cusecs of water from Maharana Pratap Sagar Reservoir (Pong Dam). Mand, Miyani, Gandrah, Bhograma, Parag, Reyali and Rey villages were worst hit and crops on several acres of lands were destroyed. A dozen panchayts in Mand area of Nurpur sub-division were flooded.

Bhakhra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has been constantly discharging water through spillways of Pong Dam since August, 6 as the inflow has increased due to torrential rains. Inflow of water into the reservoir on Saturday was recorded at 94,000 cusecs. The BBMB authorities discharged 60,000 cusecs of water into the Beas River through floodgates on Saturday.

Water level at the reservoir stood at 1,380 feet on Saturday, which is 57 feet higher as compared to last year's 1,323 feet on the same date. Deputy commissioner C Pal Rasu said around half-a-dozen villages were affected as water entered into their houses while paddy, maize and sugarcane crop had also been damaged.

Rasu said warning had been issued in villages situated in downstream areas of Pong Dam and boats have been arranged to evacuate people in case of emergency. He said situation was under control as BBMB authorities had already informed the district administration about water release.

"According BBMB authorities there is a possibility of release 1 lakh cusecs of water from the Pong Dam reservoir, so we have alerted people in the area to move to safer places," said he said. "We are continuously monitoring the situation and revenue officer of the area has been made the field officer who will submit a report about the situation every day" he added.

Pong Dam can store water up to 1,395 feet against the danger mark of 1,390 feet. The dam meets the irrigation requirements of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and some parts of Himachal Pradesh.