Latest revision as of 04:19, 22 September 2025

[edit] The “river of sorrow” and its floods

[edit] A backgrounder

Raakhi Jagga, August 30, 2025: The Indian Express

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation in the region, which is presently under control, despite the river overflowing in one village in Ghanaur. The water level is expected to recede further in the following hours, according to Pratham Gambhir, Executive Engineer, Drainage Department, Patiala.

In Punjab, Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, and Mansa bear the brunt of flooding by the rainfed river. Areas like Moonak, Khanauri (Sangrur), Samana, Ghagga, Ghanaur (Patiala), villages near Dera Bassi (Mohali), and Sardulgarh (Mansa) are particularly vulnerable.

The state is home to both perennial rivers fed by glaciers and seasonal rainfed rivers that depend entirely on monsoon rainfall. Unlike the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas, which are regulated through dams, rainfed rivers lack major storage structures, making them highly prone to flash floods during heavy rains. Originating in the Shivalik Hills, these rivers flow through the plains, often merging with the Ghaggar or disappearing into sandy tracts.

Here is what to know about the Ghaggar River, its supporting river systems, and its susceptibility to flooding.

Ghaggar: Punjab’s largest rainfed river

Historically believed to be part of the Saraswati river system, Ghaggar carries cultural significance. As a seasonal river, it remains dry for most of the year but swells dangerously during the monsoon due to its wide catchment in Himachal and Haryana.

The Ghaggar originates in the Shivalik foothills near Dagshai in Himachal Pradesh and enters the plains near Kalka and Panchkula in Haryana. Flowing southwest, it briefly runs along the Haryana-Punjab border before entering Punjab near Dera Bassi. In Punjab, it passes through SAS Nagar (Mohali) district and Patiala, affecting areas like Rajpura, Ghanaur, Samana, and then Sangrur, including Moonak and Khanauri – both historically flood-prone.

After Sangrur, the river flows through Mansa’s Sardulgarh region before re-entering Haryana (Kaithal, Fatehabad, Sirsa) and Rajasthan (Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar), finally disappearing into the Thar Desert along the dry Hakra channel, a remnant of its ancient course.

Malwa’s “river of sorrow”

The Ghaggar is regarded as Malwa’s “river of sorrow” due to its repeated flooding and devastation. Almost dry for most of the year, it suddenly swells during the monsoon, inundating fields and villages. Crops, homes, and infrastructure suffer massive damage, displacing thousands of people. Despite its seasonal nature, its unpredictability makes it a nightmare for communities along its banks.

Rainfed rivers like the Ghaggar depend entirely on rainfall. Intense rain in Himachal and Haryana creates sudden surges, overwhelming shallow channels. Encroachments, silt accumulation, and weak embankments reduce capacity, leading to breaches and flooding in low-lying villages.

The 1988 floods were triggered when the Ghaggar crossed 754 ft after a spate of heavy rainfall, breaching embankments at Khanauri and Moonak. The surrounding areas were similarly flooded in 1993 and 2008.

More recently, the river overflowed and submerged its surrounding areas during the 2019 monsoon. The river crossed 754 ft in 2023, flooding Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, and Mansa, and several Haryana districts.

Other important tributaries and streams

Ghaggar receives water from several tributaries and seasonal choes or streams that originate in the Shivalik foothills. Major tributaries include Kaushalya Nadi, Tangri, Markanda, Sarsa, Patiala Badi Nadi, Patiala Ki Rao, Jhabo Wali Choe, and Sirhind Choe. These streams swell during heavy rains, significantly increasing the river’s discharge and flood risk downstream.

Kaushalya Nadi: Originates near Pinjore and joins the Ghaggar, important in the Panchkula-Pinjore belt.

Markanda River: A major tributary in Haryana, though seasonal, it merges into the Ghaggar near Shahabad. Another seasonal river from the Shivalik belt, flowing mainly through Haryana but linked hydrologically to the Ghaggar in Patiala during heavy rains.

Tangri River: Originates in the Morni Hills (Haryana) and touches the river in Patiala district before flowing into it in Haryana

Patiala Badi Nadi: Begins in the Shivalik foothills and flows through Patiala city. For Patiala Badi Nadi, the danger mark is 15 feet, and during major flood events, it has touched 14.8 feet in the past. Currently, it is at 11.2 feet.

Patiala Ki Rao: A Rao (seasonal rivulet) that flows through Patiala and joins the Ghaggar during heavy rains.

Jhahbo Wali Choe: A choe (seasonal stream) in the Punjab region that drains rainwater into Ghaggar.

Sirhind Choe: A seasonal stream originating near Sirhind and ultimately merging into the Ghaggar basin.

These streams swell during heavy rainfall and are the major cause of flash floods in Punjab and Haryana because they drain into the Ghaggar quickly.

There is no major dam on the river. However, the Kaushalya Dam on the Kaushalya Nadi, near Pinjore in Haryana, serves as the main flood-control and water conservation structure in the basin. Smaller embankments and bundhs exist in Punjab and Haryana for flood protection.

Rainfed rivers like the Ghaggar remain Punjab’s most unpredictable flood threat. Unlike perennial rivers regulated by dams, these rivers swell within hours of heavy rain. Strengthening embankments, removing encroachments, and real-time monitoring of water levels are critical to minimising damage in Punjab’s Malwa region.