Heavy rain in upper catchments raises river levels across Haryana; authorities issue flood advisory

Rising river levels following rainfall in the Himalayan catchments prompted authorities across parts of Haryana to step up flood preparedness on Saturday, with officials issuing advisories, restricting public access to vulnerable riverbanks and closely monitoring water discharge from key rivers and barrages.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that several districts, including Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Karnal, could receive further rainfall. “Daytime temperatures are likely to increase gradually as monsoon activity weakens and atmospheric moisture decreases,” the IMD said, adding that night temperatures are expected to remain close to seasonal averages.

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Officials said rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh led to an increase in water levels in rivers such as the Ghaggar, Tangri, Kaushalya, Markanda and the Yamuna, prompting district administrations to intensify surveillance and activate precautionary measures in vulnerable locations.

In Panchkula, the district administration imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prevent public movement near rivers, seasonal streams and flood-prone areas. “Public access to rivers and seasonal streams has been prohibited till August 28 as a precautionary measure,” Panchkula Police said, warning that violations would invite legal action.

Water discharge at the Hathnikund Barrage in Yamunanagar also remained under close watch, with irrigation officials regulating the release of water in accordance with downstream requirements. Authorities said the situation was being monitored continuously and that coordination was being maintained among irrigation, revenue and disaster management departments.

District administrations have advised residents living near rivers and low-lying areas to remain alert and follow official advisories. Disaster response teams have also been kept on standby to respond to any emergency arising from a further rise in water levels.

Officials said field teams were assessing vulnerable locations and keeping a close watch on embankments and drainage channels to minimise the risk of flooding if rainfall continues in the upper catchments.

The IMD said that while monsoon activity over Haryana is expected to weaken gradually because of changing wind patterns, isolated spells of rain may continue over northern districts in the coming days. The department advised people to exercise caution in areas close to overflowing rivers and streams.

According to the weather department, Haryana’s maximum temperature rose marginally during the past 24 hours but remained below normal for this time of the year. Night temperatures also continued to stay close to seasonal levels despite fluctuations in weather conditions across the state.