Tungabhadra Dam Update: All Five Stop Log Gate Installed Amid Heavy Flow, Engineer Team Plans Next Steps

Engineers successfully lowered and installed all five element of the stop log gate at Gate No. 19 of the Tungabhadra Dam on Saturday afternoon, despite facing heavy water flow and diminishing light conditions.

The crest gate, which was previously damaged when the chain link broke late Saturday night, is 60 feet high and 20 feet wide. Five elements, each measuring 4 feet wide, were prepared at Hindustan Engineering Company's shed in Hosalli, Koppal taluk. In the latest update, five of these elements were successfully installed on Saturday.

Encouraged by the progress, the engineering team, led by hydro-mechanical engineer N. Kannaiah Naidu, is optimistic about installing the remaining four elements within the next few days. Naidu noted that while the typical lifespan of a dam gate is about 40 years, the gate that failed had been in service for 30 years beyond its expected life.

Earlier in the day, a portion of the skywalk and balancing beam was dismantled to facilitate the movement of cranes.

Project Overview

The current project aims to install stop log gates to regulate water flow, thereby protecting downstream areas and safeguarding agricultural crops. The plan includes the installation of five stop log gates, each designed to manage 25 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of water. According to Naidu, if necessary, three additional gates could be added, increasing the total water management capacity to 90 TMC.

"Working in these conditions requires significant skill and courage," Naidu said. "I have assembled a team of experts adept at handling such challenging situations." Due to the sensitive nature of the operation, only essential personnel are allowed near the dam, with officials and politicians informed that the area is off-limits for security reasons.

In addition to the installation efforts, a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has been deployed as a precaution. Over 80 laborers and engineers are involved in the operation, and boats are on standby for potential rescue operations.