India opens one gate at Baglihar Dam, built on Chenab River in Ramban, to regulate rising water levels

India on Sunday opened one gate at the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project Dam, built on the Chenab River in Ramban.

This development followed the opening of two gates of the dam on Saturday, as reported by ToI citing sources. The gates were kept open between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. The region had experienced heavy rainfall on Friday, prompting the need to regulate the water flow.

Previously, Centre had opened two gates at the Ramban-based dam—just days after having shut them—to manage water discharge to Pakistan.


Indus Waters Treaty's abeyance has become a point of contention between New Delhi and Pakistan, amidst rising tensions.

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India has also placed the Indus Waters Treaty in a state of suspension. The Chenab River, which is covered under the treaty, is part of the larger Indus river system that includes the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers.

Under the 1960 agreement, water usage rights over these rivers were divided between India and Pakistan. Pakistan relies heavily on this river system to irrigate a major portion of its agricultural land.

The Baglihar Dam, a significant hydroelectric project on the Chenab, has previously been a flashpoint in India-Pakistan tensions within the framework of the treaty.

India's decision to hold the treaty in abeyance came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Baisaran Valley.

Indian armed forces on the interwining night of May 7 launched a military offensive against Pakistan-based terrorist groups, codenamed ' Operation Sindoor'.

Pakistan, in turn, has retaliated by violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Borders along India's Western Borders.

Islamabad's offensive has included the attempted targeting of Indian civilians across the states of Rajasthan, Punjab and the Union Terroritory of Jammu and Kashmir.

On Saturday evening, India's foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that the two countries had reached a bilateral understanding to halt military operations after two days of tense cross-border firings and attempted air assaults by Pakistan.

However, shortly after India had made the announcement, Srinagar was rocked by a series of explosions around 8:50 pm on Saturday, continuing intermittently for at least 40 minutes. Similar reports of blasts emerged from other parts of Kashmir, including Anantnag in the south and Baramulla in the north. Power was cut off across the Valley.

“For the last few hours, there have been repeated violations of the understanding arrived at earlier this evening,” foreign secretary Vikram Misri said at a televised briefing late on Saturday. “The armed forces are giving an adequate and appropriate response to these violations. We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and deal with the situation with seriousness and responsibility.”