NDRF teams start rescue operations in flood-hit areas of Punjab’s Gurdaspur

NDRF teams began rescue ops in Gurdaspur to evacuate people in flooded areas due to release of excess water from Pong dam. Villagers moved to safer places, carrying essentials. Indian Army, BSF, district admin teams engaged in rescue ops. Relief camp set up; helpline number available.

Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on August 16 began rescue operations to evacuate people in several areas in Gurdaspur which were inundated following the release of excess water from the Pong dam, officials said.

The Pong dam, on the Beas River, is brimming after heavy rain in its catchment areas. The water level in the Beas River rose following the release of water from the Pong dam on Tuesday, said Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal.

He added that a breach in the embankment along the Beas River has flooded many villages, including Chechia Chorian, Pakhowal, Kherha, Dalelpur, Padana, Chhina Bet, Nadala, Jagatpur Kalan, Kohlian and Khariaan.

The district administration has asked people living in the low-lying areas and near the banks of the Beas River to move to safer places.

Many villagers, carrying essentials on their shoulders, could be seen wading through the flood-hit areas to move to safer places.

Some villagers even engaged their own tractor-trolleys to take those stranded in the flooded areas to other places.

The Deputy Commissioner said that several teams of the district administration were already engaged in the rescue and relief operations. He added that the NDRF teams, which reached on Tuesday night, began the rescue operations on Wednesday morning.