The North News
Nangal, August 18
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) on Tuesday opened the floodgates of the Bhakra Dam after water levels rose beyond the prescribed safety mark. Officials said there was no cause for panic, but the decision was taken as a precautionary measure. Under BBMB guidelines, the water level at the dam should not exceed 1,662 feet by August 19. On Tuesday, however, it had reached 1,665 feet—three feet higher than the recommended limit and close to the dam’s full capacity of 1,680 feet.
The floodgates were opened at 3pm, releasing water in phases to regulate the level. In the first phase, gates were raised by one foot, followed by two feet at 4pm, and up to three feet at 5pm through both radial and flood-control gates. The move comes amid forecasts of heavy rainfall in the Sutlej catchment area on 24 August and August 25 , with further downpours expected in September. The BBMB administration has instructed officials to strictly follow the release plan to ensure the process remains safe and controlled.
