Overview

• Heavy monsoon rains in Jammu and Kashmir led India to reopen gates at Salal and Baglihar dams to release excess water and prevent reservoir overtopping.
• This decision reversed last week's closure of the dams, which had dried up the Chenab River as part of India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty after a terror attack.
• The reopening has normalized water flow to Pakistan but has also caused localized flooding, landslides, and the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
• Officials report no fatalities from the flooding or landslides, though road clearance efforts have been hindered by persistent rainfall in the region.
• The Baglihar and Salal dams highlight India's control over Chenab River flows, a critical point of contention in ongoing water-sharing disputes with Pakistan.