Tuesday, June 28 2005 10:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shimla: A major breach in artificial lake formed on river Parechhu in Chinese territory resulted in the flash floods in Sutlej, highly placed sources said yesterday (Jun 27, 2005).

The information gathered by the State Government through different agencies and satellite imageries revealed that the blockade on the river had been removed and about 70 to 80 per cent water of the lake had been drained out on Sunday (Jun 26, 2005), they said in Shimla.

The formation of a lake on Parechhu, a tributory of Sutlej, had become a nightmare for the people living along the banks of Sutlej from Sumdoh to Mandi and Bilaspur who remained on tenterhooks for nearly three months from August to November last year.

A red alert was sounded and Army was put on high alert in the wake of flash flood threat.

About 3,000 families were evacuated and provided temporary shelter for nearly three months and was averted when the lake was frozen in the winters. Inspite of all efforts, the area and depth of the lake could not be ascertained and the officials hoped that the flash flood threat would be finally over.

As the level of Parechhu at Sumdoh had surged by 50 to 60 ft on Sunday a high alert was sounded and the people living along the banks of 200 km stretch of Sutlej from Sumdoh to Bilaspur were asked to shift to safer places.

Initially panic gripped the people living along Sutlej but gradually the water level started receding and the people heaved a sigh of relief.