Varanasi: Heavy showers and the release of around 1.20 lakh cusecs of water from Bansagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday prompted authorities to open dam gates in Sonbhadra and Chandauli on Thursday to release excess water. As the water moved downstream, the Ganga was flowing above the danger mark in Ballia and Ghazipur on Thursday morning, keeping authorities on high alert.In view of the overflowing Sone river, Sonbhadra DM Charchit Gaur inspected the Chopan area in the evening to review the situation arising from the rising water level, administrative preparedness and safety arrangements.The DM swung into action after around 1.20 lakh cusecs of additional water was released from Bansagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, with its impact reaching the Chopan gauge site by Thursday. To regulate the water level and discharge, two additional gates of Rihand Dam were opened at 8 am on Thursday, taking the total number of open gates to seven. After nearly 77,000 cusecs of water was released and the water level managed, five gates of Rihand Dam were closed, leaving only two gates open.Revenue, police and field teams are monitoring riverbank villages and warning residents to stay away from rivers, drains and reservoirs and rely only on official information. Teams remain prepared for an immediate response in sensitive locations if required.The Chandauli district administration remained on alert as water levels in major dams were regulated amid flooding in low-lying areas. At Musakhand Dam, the level was maintained at 356.00 feet by opening five gates to release a total of 4,085 cusecs of water. At Chandraprabha Dam, nine escape gates were opened to discharge 694.40 cusecs, keeping the reservoir level at 771 feet.DM Chandra Mohan Garg inspected flood-hit Churmuli village on the ground, reviewed waterlogging and relief operations, and directed officials to remain on alert. He interacted with villagers, assured them of full administrative support, and ordered the immediate availability of food, ration kits, safe drinking water and medicines.The tehsildar and lekhpal were instructed to quickly assess crop, house and livestock losses transparently so that compensation could be processed. Health and animal husbandry teams were told to continue visits, disinfect affected areas, distribute chlorine tablets and vaccinate cattle without any negligence.In the downstream districts of Ghazipur and Ballia, the Ganga was flowing at 63.48 metres and 59.69 metres respectively on Thursday morning. The danger levels in the two districts are 63.10 metres and 57.61 metres, respectively. Officials in both districts were on high alert to tackle problems caused by the overflowing Ganga and its tributaries, as a rising trend continued in all of them.
