Chandrababu Naidu Orders Immediate Action Following Tungabhadra Dam Gate Failure

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu swiftly responded to the situation arising from the snapping of one of the gates at Tungabhadra Dam on Sunday.

In a high-level review meeting with Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu and Special Chief Secretary G Saiprasad, Naidu instructed the state Irrigation Department to dispatch a team of engineers to assist the dam authorities with necessary repairs.

Karnataka authorities have already initiated efforts to address the issue by releasing 60 TMC of water from the dam. The state's disaster management authority has advised the public to remain calm, providing helplines (1070, 112, and 1800 425 0101) for assistance. Despite the potential risks, they assured that there is no immediate cause for panic.

Naidu further directed the engineering officials to continuously monitor the situation and provide regular updates. He emphasized the importance of visiting the dam site to assess the damage firsthand.

Special Chief Secretary Saiprasad mentioned that installing a stop lock gate could offer a temporary solution to restore the damaged gate. However, Minister Ramanaidu noted that the outdated design of the dam poses challenges in implementing this solution.

Additionally, Ramanaidu alerted engineers overseeing the Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Pulichintala projects to be prepared for any additional water inflows resulting from the release of water from the Tungabhadra Dam during the repair process.