Bokaro: Two radial gates of the Tenughat Dam were opened on Monday as the ongoing spell of rain led to an increase in the water levels of the reservoir. An alert was issued for the areas downstream of the Damodar River, officials said.A statement from the office of Executive Engineer, Tenughat Dam Division, said the gates were opened at 3 pm, releasing 2,700 cusecs of water into the river. Two radial gates and one under-sluice gate will remain open, while additional gates may be opened if inflow continues to rise, officials said.The water level at the reservoir stood at RL 849.76 feet, 3 feet below its maximum conservation level of 852 feet.While Chandankiyari recorded 42 mm rain till Monday noon, Bokaro Thermal recorded 13 mm rain, data from the Ranchi Met office said.The increased discharge is expected to raise the water level of the Damodar River, which flows through Dhanbad district before entering West Bengal. The ongoing rain has led to a rise in the water levels of the river, including Garga and Ijri, leading to the possibility of a higher downstream flow.“The govts of Jharkhand and West Bengal, along with district administrations, police, disaster management authorities and irrigation officials, have been urged to take necessary precautionary measures,” the statement said. Locals were asked to stay from the river and avoid venturing into low-lying areas in the downstream of the river.
Water level at Tenughat Dam was at 849.76 feet, three notches below its maximum storing capacity