Tungabhadra dam gate collapses; high alert issued along Krishna river
A gate of the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka was washed away on Saturday night due to the snapping of a chain link, resulting in a sudden release of 35,000 cusec water into the river. To prevent further reservoir damage, all 33 dam gates were opened. As of Sunday morning, at least 1 lakh cusecs of water was being released. As a precaution, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has issued a warning to those residing along the riverbanks.
Dam key water source for farmers
"People in Kurnool district's Kosiri, Mantralayam, Nandavaram and Kouthalam should exercise caution," the senior official said in a press release. According to the Deccan Herald, officials at the site stated that the restoration work can only begin after releasing approximately 60 tmc feet (60 thousand million cubic feet) of water from the dam. Tungabhadra, built in 1970, is the second-largest 'Surkhi' reservoir after Kerala's Mullaperiyar Dam. It is a key water source for farmers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
