Chandigarh, September 5: The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Friday reduced water discharge from the Bhakra dam by 15,000 cusecs, following an urgent request from Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain who warned of breaches along the Sutlej embankments in the district.
Officials confirmed the release was brought down from 85,000 cusecs to 70,000 cusecs after Jain sent an SOS message to the BBMB, alerting that several vulnerable stretches along the river were at risk. “We had to immediately convey the situation to the BBMB so that repair work on the embankments could be carried out safely,” Jain said.
Sources said the BBMB chairman acted on the request, ordering that for the next six hours only about 50,000 cusecs would be released into the Sutlej. The temporary reduction, they noted, would allow state agencies to strengthen the embankments in multiple locations across Punjab.
At the same time, officials reported that decreased rainfall in the region had eased pressure on the dam. Average inflow into Bhakra had dropped to nearly 70,000 cusecs, which could enable BBMB to maintain the reduced outflow level for the coming days. “With the forecast indicating lighter rains ahead, we may not need to raise discharge in the immediate term,” a senior official said.
According to Friday morning’s data, the water level in Bhakra stood at 1,678.74 feet. In contrast, levels in Pong dam remained elevated at 1,394.71 feet, though inflow there also reduced to 1,05,950 cusecs, with outflow measured at 99,763 cusecs.
The move has provided partial relief to residents along the Sutlej, particularly in Ropar and adjoining districts, where people had feared rising waters could worsen damage. “The cut in release has given us some breathing space, but people must continue to remain alert,” a Ludhiana district administration spokesperson said.
Authorities have urged villagers on the riverbanks to stay cautious and follow safety advisories, even as efforts continue to repair embankments and monitor water levels closely.
