Hoshiarpur/Ferozepur/Kapurthala/ Tarn Taran, Aug. 21 -- With the weather department predicting more rain in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, no immediate respite is in sight for residents living along the swollen Beas and Sutlej rivers. The situation is likely to worsen in the worst-affected areas in Punjab, including Tanda in Hoshiarpur district, Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district, and some villages in Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Tarn Taran districts. As announced a day before, BBMB released more water from the Pong dam as inflow in the reservoir increased, touching 1.21 lakh cusecs briefly. On Wednesday, 12,000 cusecs of additional water was released in two shifts. At 5 pm, the inflow stood at 77,654 cusecs, and 65,789 cusecs was being released through spillways and turbines. Nearly 40 villages in Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts, situated on the banks of the Beas, remained largely affected as 5-6 feet of water accumulated. Presently, the Beas is carrying 1.10 lakh cusecs of water, putting further strain on the downstream areas.Hoshiarpur DC Ashika Jain said that there was no threat of flood as of now, as water was being released in a controlled manner. "Excess water is being released to maintain the reservoir level", she said, asking people not to panic. At the Harike Headworks, built on the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej, the officials of the regulation department said that the inflow stood at 95,000 cusecs on Tuesday. "Following this, 75,000 cusecs of water was released downstream," the officials added. Due to the release of water, the situation in the Harike Hathar region worsened. Already, thousands of acres of crops in dozens villages in the region is submerged under 10 feet water. As per officials, the embankments along the Sutlej are still intact, but if the water flow increases, then a breach could flood more areas. Meanwhile, nearly 75,000 cusecs of water was released from Hussainiwala Head, inundating more low-lying areas along the Indo-Pak border. Water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal visited flood-affected areas in the mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi, accompanied by Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal and DC Amit Kumar Panchal. Goyal took a boat ride to assess the damage caused due to floods in Sangra village of the district. Goyal said CM Bhagwant Mann is personally monitoring relief operations and the government will provide complete compensation for crop losses and other damages. "The orders have been issued for special girdawari in Sultanpur and Bholath tehsils for crop compensation," he said. The flood-like situation in Ferozepur has affected nearly 64 villages, with around 8,600 acres of agricultural land in 25 villages submerged. The villages worst affected by flooding are Alewala, Fattewala, Ashike, Mashike, Tanabagga, Bodlabagga, Nizamwala, Nihala Lavera, Dheera Ghara, Talli Gulam, Bandala, Kaleke Hithar, Masteke, Jama Megha, Bala Megha, Habibwala, Dona Telu Mal, Gandu Kilcha Uttar, Gandu Kilcha Hithar, Gatti Telu Mal, Gatti Mehmoodke Hithar, Dona Mattar, DRD Nath, and Raja Raee. A BSF outpost near Satpal was also affected by flooding. BSF personnel have intensified both boat and foot patrols across the border. Ferozepur administration has ordered online classes for government school students starting Thursday. DC Deepshikha Sharma said that online classes would start from Thursday and that senior students would be accommodated in nearby schools....