Amid continuous rainfall, the two gates of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project Dam built on the Chenab River in Ramban have been opened.The dam water is released due to heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, which might cause floods in the region. The official said several vehicles have been halted on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to a landslide in Chamba.
Speaking to a news agency on Thursday, Deputy Traffic Inspector (DTI) Udhampur, Javed Kataria, said, "A landslide happened in Chamba due to heavy rainfall in the region. That's why the roads are completely blocked. The restoration work is going on under the supervision of senior officials...Hopefully, the road will be open again in 3-4 hours."
Earlier on May 6, all gates of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project Dam were closed, even as a limited volume of water continues to flow downstream after India suspended the 1960 Indus Water Treaty post Pahalgam terror attack.
This comes days after India announced it would hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, following the terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead.
The Baglihar Dam, a key hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River, has been at the centre of past disputes between India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty framework.
The move gained strong support from the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. They have condemned Pakistan's actions, warning that continued provocation could lead to war and reiterating support for India's recent measures.Over the last weekend, India unexpectedly released water from the Baglihar and Salal dams in Jammu and Kashmir, sending a sudden surge down the Chenab River.
Although releasing water—known as ‘flushing the reservoir’—is a routine annual procedure essential for clearing silt and debris to ensure optimal functioning of the dams’ power plants, it is typically carried out in August during the monsoon season.while the Baglihar and Salal dams cannot block the Chenab's flow to Pakistan for extended periods, they do allow India to control the timing of water releases. Currently, as the rabi harvest is ongoing, water demand is relatively low.
However, both Indian and Pakistani farmers will require significantly more water during the upcoming paddy cultivation season in a month or two.
Designed as run-of-the-river projects, the Baglihar and Salal dams allow India to control the timing of water flow downstream. During their construction, Pakistan objected and sought the World Bank’s intervention. In response, India agreed to lower the dam height to 143 metres—1.5 metres less than initially planned—thereby reducing the water storage capacity by 13.5 percent.
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