Authorities at the Kaptai hydropower plant have opened 16 spillway gates of the dam after continuous rainfall and upstream hill runoff caused the water level in Kaptai Lake to reach the danger mark. The gates were opened just after midnight on Wednesday to release excess water and prevent potential flooding.
According to the Karnaphuli Hydropower Station, the water level in the lake reached 108 feet by Monday afternoon, prompting action as the reservoir approached its maximum capacity of 109 feet MSL (mean sea level). Each of the 16 gates was opened six inches, allowing approximately 9,000 cusecs of water to flow out per second.
The released water is now passing through the Karnaphuli River into the Bay of Bengal. The hydropower station continues to operate five units, currently generating 222 megawatts of electricity.
Mahmud Hasan, manager of the Karnaphuli Hydropower Station, confirmed the controlled opening of the dam gates. He advised residents of low-lying areas not to panic, assuring that the discharge was being managed carefully to avoid downstream flooding.
