CHANDIGARH : The surging water level in Bhakra Dam is keeping officials of Bhakra Beas Management Board ( BBMB ) on their toes these days as it has crossed the 1,645-feet mark and is inching towards the danger level.

The waters at the country's second highest dam reached 1,647.87 feet on Tuesday - over 78 feet higher than last year's 1,569.9 feet on July 30. It was also the highest level recorded in the past eight years. On July 30, 2005, the water level recorded at Bhakra was 1,649.67 feet. However, according to BBMB officials, the situation is not "that alarming" still.

"We are keeping a close eye on the water level. The flood gates would be opened only if the water level crosses the danger mark of 1,650-feet in the coming days," said BBMB water regulations director V K Sharma. "And even if we have to release water, the spillage would be regulated and should not result in any flooding," Sharma added.

BBMB officials are also extra vigilant as the Himachal Pradesh met department has predicted heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday in the state, which could result in a sudden increase in the water inflow into the Bhakra reservoir. "We had an inflow of 47,814 cusecs on Tuesday morning, which is decent enough and not alarming," said a board official.

The water in Bhakra has recorded unprecedented levels this year owing to heavy monsoon showers of last month and early melting of the snow. The melting of snow has also been highest this year in the last over two decades.

Earlier this month on July 10, the BBMB had sounded an alert after the water level touched the highest-ever mark of 1,629.87 feet in July, which was over 48 feet higher than last year's level on the same day. While warning Punjab against possible flooding of encroachments on the river beds of Satluj and Beas, BBMB chairman AB Agrawal had stated that flood gates would be opened if the water level crossed 1,650-mark.

BBMB officials have also been holding meetings with Punjab and Haryana at regular intervals to apprise both the states about the water level.

