Flood Gates at Bhakra Dam Opened Due to Water Level Exceeding Safety Threshold
Headline: Bhakra Dam Floodgates Opened for the First Time This Season Amid Heavy Monsoon Rains
The authorities of the Pong Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam are on high alert to prevent damages due to the sharp rise in their water levels. The Bhakra Dam near Chandigarh has already taken action, with its floodgates being opened on Tuesday by the Bhakra-Beas Management Board (BBMB) due to rising water levels caused by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, particularly in Himachal Pradesh.
This move led to an alarming increase in reservoir inflow, necessitating a controlled release to maintain the water level within safe regulatory limits and prevent the risk of overflow or potential dam safety issues. Specifically, on August 19, 2025, the water level at Bhakra Dam rose to 1,665.06 feet, which was about 3 feet above the guideline level of 1,662 feet for that date.
Given the forecast of continued heavy rain from August 23-25, the BBMB began a phased and controlled release of water—38,000 cusecs through turbines and 7,000 cusecs through spillways—to reduce reservoir levels proactively and manage inflows without causing sudden downstream flooding. This is the first opening of the Bhakra floodgates for the 2025 monsoon season, and the release is coordinated with partner states (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh) for regional flood preparedness.
The controlled releases from Bhakra, along with the Pong Dam, aim to keep water within safe limits during the ongoing heavy monsoon rains and protect dam infrastructure, while also monitoring downstream impacts such as possible inundation of some villages along the Sutlej and Beas rivers.
The BBMB has also issued a warning to people living in areas falling in the river bed or on or near the Sutlej or its banks. The weather forecast predicts heavy rains in the Sutlej catchment area on August 24, 25, and during September.
Meanwhile, the water level in the Ranjit Sagar Dam, built over the Ravi river, is 1,712 feet this season, over five feet more from last year's level. Similarly, the water level in the Pong Dam is 1,712 feet this season, higher than last year's level. The flood gates of Pong Dam were opened last week, submerging over 1,000 hectares of farm lands downstream along the Beas river.
The BBMB's actions were taken due to the predicted heavy rains in the Sutlej catchment area. The authorities urge residents in affected areas to heed the warnings and stay safe, advising them not to venture near the river banks.
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