Gates of Pong dam may be opened on Monday night: Official

The flood gates of the Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district may be opened on Monday night as the water level is running above the danger mark, an official said.

The gates of the dam on the Beas river are being opened to avoid any damage to it. The water may be released anytime late in the night, a Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) official said.

The BBMB has instructed the residents of the low-lying areas in the state and neighbouring Punjab to remain vigilant. The authorities have also been asked to make all kinds of preparations, the official said.

The water level has gone above the danger mark due to the recent heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Beas over the past three days, he said.

Earlier, the BBMB issued a flood-warning and said more than 49,000 cusecs of water from the dam would be released at 3 pm on Tuesday. The reservoir level of the dam has already reached to 1,385.56 feet, he added.