SULTANPUR LODHI, Aug. 11 — Panic gripped Rampur Gaura village on Sunday after the Beas River breached its banks in multiple locations, forcing residents to abandon homes and possessions as they sought higher ground.
Local authorities launched urgent evacuation measures as water levels rose steadily, raising fears of severe flooding. “We left everything behind — there was no time to think, only to run,” said Balwinder Singh, a resident. “The water was at our doorstep.”
Experts say the threat of Beas flooding has grown in recent years, even though Punjab rarely sees rainfall intense enough to be classified as a natural calamity. The pattern intensified after flash floods at Chakki near Pathankot in 2022, they added.
Specialists also warned that rampant sand and gravel mining has eroded riverbanks and reduced the river’s capacity to manage high flows. “Mining has weakened the natural defences of the river, making breaches more likely during peak discharge,” said hydrologist Harpreet Gill.
Officials are monitoring the situation and have urged residents in low-lying areas to remain alert as rescue teams continue relief operations.
