Three Cheetah Helicopters took 36,000 parathas and 18,000 litres of water to 18 flood affected villages of Shahkot, in Jalandhar district in Punjab. (File Photo)

The Bhakra Nangal Dam, considered a key factor in making farmers of Punjab prosperous, has this year brought misery for people of the states. Punjab is facing its worst flood in 40 years. Flood situation remained critical in Punjab today.

Torrential rains in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh led to inflow of around 3,11,130 cusec water into Bhakra Dam. The water level went up to 1681.33 feet in the reservoir. This was much more than what experts say is safe level of water storage in the reservoir.

Keeping safety of the dam in view, authorities in Punjab released 19,000 cusec water through the spillway gates.

The Bakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) today explained the situation saying that a lower level of water storage in the dam will avoid flood-like situation in many districts, including Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Moa and Firozpur in Punjab.

"The authorities have now decided to decrease the reservoir water levels at least by five feet to handle any possibility of future floods," Chairman of BBMB DK Sharma said.

The state continues to grapple with the aftermath of incessant rains as more than 300 villages in Ropar, Jalandhar and Ferozepur districts of Punjab are badly affected by overflowing Satluj river.

The deluge has damaged crops over thousands of acres of land. Scores of villagers are watching the flood situation anxiously with thousands of them spending nights on rooftops.