Karnataka: Tungabhadra Dam gate washed away, alert in Andhra Pradesh

Bengaluru: One of the gates of the Tungabhadra Dam was washed away on Saturday night, said officials. This happened due to the snapping of the chain link. Approximately 35000 cusecs of water is flowing from this gate (Gate number 19) and 48000 cusecs of water has already been discharged into the river.
33 gates opened, water released downstream
Following heavy inflows into the Tungabhadra dam located in Karnataka, the dam authorities have opened 33 sluice gates and released water downstream. This water will flow across Karnataka’s border into Andhra Pradesh and finally enter Telangana in Gadwal district at Alampur to meet the Krishna River.
Following this development authorities in Andhra Pradesh have warned people, especially those living along the banks of the Krishna River to stay alert. The APSDMA managing director R Kurmanadh was quoted as saying by NDTV that the gate number 19 of the dam was washed away due to the intensity of floodwaters after the snapping of a chain link. He added that the people from Kurnool district’s Kosiri, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and Kouthalam should exercise caution if they are living near the river banks. Locals have also been asked to avoid crossing canals and streams.
Such a major incident has occurred after nearly 70 years, said a report in Deccan Herald. Officials said that the process of restoration and repair can be taken up only after releasing around 60 tmc feet water (60 thousand million cubic feet of water) from the dam. There are a total of 33 gates built into the Tungabhadra dam.