Alert issued as India prepares to open Dhauliganga Dam

BAITADI: The Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India, is set to open the Dhauliganga Dam for two days, from August 31 to September 1.

In response, authorities in Baitadi district have issued a cautionary alert, warning residents to be vigilant as the water level in the Mahakali River is expected to rise.

The dam, part of the Dhauliganga Hydropower Project, will be opened from midday on August 31 until the evening of the following day.

Baitadi’s Chief District Officer, Bhim Kant Sharma, urged the public to remain alert during the hours immediately following the dam’s opening.

The alert was issued after Indian authorities sent a formal notice to the District Administration Office.

The dam will be opened to clear turbidity caused by rising water levels due to monsoon rains, with sluice gates releasing water from the reservoir.

Residents along the Mahakali River, from Darchula to Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur districts downstream, are advised to exercise caution.

This annual release of water from the Dhauliganga Hydropower Project’s dam is a routine procedure.