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Bargi Dam Opens 13 Gates as Narmada Surges Downstream

Releases aim to protect the reservoir with an 8–10 foot rise in downstream river levels forecast

Overview

  • Dam managers increased discharge to 13 of 21 spillway gates, lifting gates to about 2.15 metres and releasing roughly 3,988 cumecs of water to lower reservoir pressure.
  • The expansion followed sustained heavy rain and inflows reported up to about 1,126 cumecs that earlier forced nine gates to be opened at lower lifts.
  • Rising flows have already submerged temples, shops and ghats and inundated the tourist area of Bhedaghat as videos and local reports showed fast currents and flooded riverfronts.
  • District authorities have issued red and safety alerts, sounded sirens at key ghats, removed shops, and deployed SDRF, NDRF, civil defence and police teams to monitor and evacuate vulnerable areas.
  • Officials warn river levels could climb another 8–10 feet downstream and say more gates may be opened if inflows continue, posing ongoing flood risk to riverside communities and tourism operations.