Chandigarh, May 27 -- With the water level in the Bhakra Dam reservoir nearly 45 feet higher than last year despite lower inflows, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and Punjab's water resources department are facing a difficult situation this summer amid fears of a weak monsoon as well as floods similar to those witnessed in 2023 and 2025 that caused extensive damage across the state.

Authorities are yet to finalise a strategy for regulating water in the reservoirs of the three major dams managed by the BBMB - Pong Dam on the Beas, Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi and Bhakra on the Sutlej.

"We are working against the odds as the water level in the Bhakra Dam reservoir is nearly 45 feet higher than the previous year. The predictions by...