Pong Dam Water Level Remains Above Danger Mark; 84,952 Cusecs Released Today

The water level at Pong Dam remained above the danger mark on Saturday, raising concerns for low-lying areas in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district and several districts of Punjab.

According to official data, the water level was recorded at 1,391.28 feet at 9 a.m., slightly above the permissible limit of 1,390 feet. The dam received an inflow of 160,276 cusecs, while the total outflow stood at 84,952 cusecs—of which 17,079 cusecs were discharged through turbines and 67,873 cusecs through spillways.

Kangra district administration officials said that 11,500 cusecs were released from MHC, while 73,452 cusecs were discharged downstream from Shah Nehar Barrage (SNB). Six machines were reported to be operational at the dam.

Meanwhile, flooding continues to affect Fatehpur and Indora subdivisions of Kangra district, where hundreds of families from over 30 villages and hamlets have been shifted to safer locations. Crops spread over hundreds of acres have been destroyed, while schools, colleges, and the private Arni University have remained shut for several days.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the affected areas. With dam authorities maintaining high water levels, officials have warned that the flood situation may worsen further. The Kangra district administration has already issued an alert.

On Friday night, heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Beas River in Kangra pushed up water levels in the river and its tributaries, adding to the risk.