Kanhar Dam Overflows: Four Spillway Gates Opened After Heavy Rains

Incessant and heavy downpours across the upper catchment areas of neighboring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have led to a dramatic surge in water levels at the strategic Kanhar Irrigation Project, situated in Amwar village under the Duddhi tehsil of Sonbhadra district. With massive volumes of stormwater rushing into the reservoir, the dam's water level touched 262.800 meters, prompting emergency management protocols by the local irrigation authorities to relieve intense structural water pressure and safeguard the reservoir's integrity.Strategic Release of Water: Four Spillway Gates Raised by Two Meters EachTo safely manage the escalating inflow and prevent any potential overflow hazards, project engineers executed a controlled discharge of excess water. Vinod Kumar, Executive Engineer of the Kanhar Project, confirmed that spillway gates numbered 5, 6, 9, and 11 have been opened to a height of 2 meters each. The deliberate release is designed to regulate the reservoir capacity efficiently while keeping pace with continuous weather updates from upstream catchment zones in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where monitoring teams are tracking water influx around the clock.High Alert Issued Along River Banks and Low-Lying Coastal SettlementsThe sudden opening of the spillway gates has resulted in a rapid rise in water levels along the downstream course of the Kanhar River, prompting immediate safety interventions from the local administration. Authorities and irrigation department officials have issued strict security warnings across Amwar, Duddhi, and surrounding riverside villages. Public address announcements are being utilized to caution villagers, local fishermen, and livestock owners to stay away from riverbanks and low-lying flood zones. Meanwhile, local police and revenue department teams remain on high alert to handle any contingency should upstream rains persist and necessitate further gate adjustments.