The Punjab Government has suspended three officers, who were posted at the Madhopur headworks when the floodgates there did not open during the recent heavy inflow of water in the Ravi river, leading to severe flooding in areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts.
Those issued suspension orders by the Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, include XeN Nitin Sood, SDO Arun Kumar and JE Sachin Thakur. The three officers posted there were responsible for the maintenance of the flood gates.
The incident happened on the intervening night of August 26-27. It is believed that 2.12 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The 54 floodgates at the barrage were reportedly sealed after Operation Sindoor, to stop the flow of water to Pakistan.