Nagarjuna Sagar dam presents visual treat after all 27 gates lifted

NAGARJUNA SAGAR: With heavy inflows reaching the reservoir, the authorities on Thursday lifted all the 27 crest gates of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam and released floodwater downstream. As water flowed down from all the gates, it presented a visual treat for the people on both sides of the river Krishna.

Earlier on Thursday, the authorities first raised 10 gates to regulate the water levels in the reservoir. Incidentally, within a span of 10 hours, all the 27 crest gates had to be lifted as more and more inflows reached the reservoir. It is reported that lifting of all the crest gates at Nagarjuna Sagar on the very first day is a rare phenomenon.

Copious rains over the last one week in the upper catchment areas of the river have caused fresh floods at some places. Heavy inflows of rainwater have prompted the authorities at both Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar dams to lift the gates and release outflows downstream.

At the time of raising of all the gates, the inflows here were recorded at 4,75,136 cusecs as against an outflow of 4,75,607 cusecs. The authorities have been regulating the inflow-outflow position as part of a round-the-clock monitoring. The reservoir has a full capacity of 312 TMCs and at the time of lifting all the gates, the FTL has soared to 306.1010 TMCs. The water level was registered at 588 feet which is precariously close to its full level of 590 feet.

For the general public, the water in full flow from all the gates at Nagarjuna Sagar dam has always been a sight to behold. People, from as far away as Hyderabad and Vijayawada, usually flock to the site to catch a glimpse of this rare spectacle thereby turning it into one of the most visited picnic spots.