One of the gates of the Tungabhadra Dam in Karnataka’s Ballari district malfunctioned and got washed away on late Saturday, causing an uncontrolled water release. The chain link securing the gate broke and approximately 100,000 cusecs of water is now pouring out from the damaged gate. Videos of the incident are surfacing on social media.
Due to the snapping of a chain link, APSDMA managing director R Kurmanadh said gate number 19 got washed away due to the intensity of floodwaters. According to reports, the mishap occurred on Saturday night in Hospet. “Nearly 35,000 cusecs of floodwaters flowed and a total of 48,000 cusecs will be discharged downstream. People in Kurnool district’s Kosiri, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and Kouthalam should exercise caution,” Kurmanadh said in a press release. Further, the managing director advised Krishna river riparian inhabitants to avoid crossing canals and streams.
Following an urgent meeting with MLAs, MPs, and experts from the Tungabhadra Board, it has been decided to release between 200,000 and 300,000 cusecs of water into the river to address the situation. A high alert has been issued for Ballari, Koppal, Hospet, and Raichur districts, advising residents to take necessary precautions.
Currently, 33 gates of the dam have been opened since Sunday morning to control the water flow. According to Koppal district minister Shivraj Tangadagi, about 65 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water must be released before repairs on gate number 19 can start.
Officials are closely monitoring the situation as they work to manage the risks from the broken gate and the ongoing water release. This is the first major incident of this nature in 70 years. Restoration work will commence only after releasing approximately 60 TMC of water from the dam, which has a total of 33 gates.