Gate collapse at Tungabhadra Dam; High alert in four districts

BENGALURU: The 19th gate of the Tungabhadra Dam in Koppal district, Karnataka, collapsed around midnight today, leading to an uncontrolled release of water from the reservoir. Approximately 35,000 cusecs of water spilled from the dam following the gate's failure.

In response, authorities have taken emergency measures to mitigate the situation, including the opening of all 33 gates of the dam to manage the water levels. Efforts are underway to release an estimated 60 TMC feet of water immediately to prevent further risks.

A high alert has been issued in the districts of Koppal, Vijayanagara, Bellary and Raichur, as these areas are directly impacted by the sudden surge of water. The Tungabhadra Dam is a crucial water source for agricultural lands in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, making the situation particularly concerning.

The chain of the 19th crustgate of the Tungabhadra dam broke around midnight on Saturday, causing a huge amount of water to flow into the river. This is the first time such a tragedy has occurred in the dam's 70-year history#Tungabhadradam
pic.twitter.com/m3chWUw37e pic.twitter.com/XlnUj0VANh

— Karnataka Weather (@Bnglrweatherman) August 11, 2024