Over a dozen villages were flooded following a 100-feet wide breach in river Satluj near village Lodhipur in Ropar on Tuesday.
The breach occured this morning in the village in Anandpur Sahib sub division after efforts by administration to protect an earthen protective bund, following release of additional water from Bhakra dam, failed, officials said.
Flood water soon gushed into nearby villages including Audipur, Nikkuwal, Ballowal, Burj, Jindwari, Dasgrain, Mehni, Mendli Kalan, Gajjpur, Chandpur and Nangli, they said, adding it caused extensive damage to crops.
Anandpur Sahib SDM APS Sandhu said the bund was technically weak.
He said about 40,000 cusecs water was released into the river from Bhakra dam and water from Charan Ganga rivulet was also flowing into the river that resulted in the breach.
Many families have been shifted to safer locations and the administration had arranged boats for this purpose. However, the villagers were reluctant to leave their houses, he said.