Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir – Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district have opened multiple spillway gates of the Salal Dam amid a sharp rise in the Chenab River’s water level following days of heavy rainfall.
Officials confirmed that the decision was made to discharge excess water and prevent flooding downstream. Local residents have been advised to stay away from riverbanks and follow safety protocols.
This move follows earlier overflow incidents at the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, also located on the Chenab River, where continuous downpours have pushed water levels dangerously high. The situation has raised significant concern across the region, especially in the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range.
Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shridhar Patil urged the public to remain cautious. “Water levels in the Chenab have surged. Unfortunately, lives have been lost in the Doda district due to people venturing too close to the river,” he said, appealing to citizens to avoid flooded areas and swollen streams.
Geopolitical Context
The opening of the Salal Dam gates comes against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions. Just last month, dam operations were being tightly controlled due to deteriorating India-Pakistan relations following the Pahalgam terror attack.
In response to the attack, the Indian government placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance under a new strategic initiative dubbed Operation Sindoor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared, “Water and blood cannot flow together,” signalling a shift in India’s approach to water-sharing diplomacy.
The Salal and Baglihar Dams are part of India’s hydroelectric infrastructure on the Chenab River, a western river allocated to Pakistan under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. Although these are classified as “run-of-the-river” projects, meaning they do not store large volumes of water, they still require careful regulation—especially during the monsoon season.
Last month, the Baglihar Dam was also compelled to open its gates on May 8 due to relentless rainfall. Despite the political tensions, coordinated dam operations have so far prevented major flood disasters.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with emergency protocols in place as monsoon rains persist across the Jammu and Kashmir region.
