Tunga Reservoir gate chain link found weak; engineers, irrigation corporation officers inspect
Shivamogga: A potential safety concern has emerged at the Tunga Reservoir in Gajanur, Shivamogga district, after the chain link of Gate 8 was found to be on the verge of breaking. This issue, discovered during a routine inspection amid this year’s monsoon, has raised alarms about the structural integrity of the dam.
The weakened chain link was identified as a precautionary measure, leading authorities to decide against raising Gate 8 until the link can be repaired after the monsoon season. The discovery has sparked concerns, especially in light of the recent incident at the Tungabhadra Reservoir, where a gate failure resulted in significant flooding.
In response to media reports highlighting the issue, officers from the Karnataka Neeravari Nigama (Irrigation Corporation) conducted an inspection of the dam site. Engineers provided detailed information on the condition of the reservoir and the necessary steps being taken to ensure safety.
This year’s heavy rainfall in the Tunga River basin has led to a significant rise in water levels at the reservoir. At one point, authorities were forced to release up to 85,000 cusecs of water in a single day. While 21 of the 22 gates were opened to manage the water flow, Gate 8 remained closed due to the weakened chain link.
The Tunga Reservoir, which spans several thousand hectares and has a capacity of 3,500 TMC of water, plays a crucial role in supplying drinking water to Shivamogga city. It also supports lift irrigation for nearby agricultural fields. Given the reservoir’s importance, the safety of its infrastructure is a top priority for the district and state authorities.
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
