Due to substantial rainfall in Madhya Pradesh's catchment areas, the water level at Gujarat's Sardar Sarovar Dam surged to 136.43 meters on Saturday, just over two meters shy of its full reservoir capacity, according to officials. With the dam releasing approximately 3.5 lakh cusecs of water, authorities in Bharuch district have advised villages near the Narmada River’s low-lying areas to remain vigilant.

The Sardar Sarovar Dam, located in Kevadia, Narmada district, has reached 136.43 meters, marking the highest level of this season, officials from the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) confirmed. The dam’s maximum capacity is 138.68 meters.

The SSNNL reports that the dam has received an average inflow of over 4.37 lakh cusecs of water, prompting authorities to discharge nearly 3.45 lakh cusecs downstream. On Friday night, the Bharuch District Collector issued a warning via a social media post, urging residents in flood-prone areas near the Narmada River to take necessary precautions as the river’s water level continues to rise due to the release from the dam.

Collector Tushar Sumera posted, "Currently, 3.25 lakh cusecs of water are being released into the Narmada River from Sardar Sarovar Dam, and the river is flowing at 20.20 feet, close to the warning level of 22 feet. Residents in low-lying areas are urged to remain cautious."

The Sardar Sarovar Project is one of India’s largest water management initiatives, benefiting four states: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. It provides irrigation to 1.85 million hectares in Gujarat and 0.24 million hectares in Rajasthan, along with drinking water for over three crore people.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), the Sardar Sarovar Dam is at 92% of its total capacity, with 206 reservoirs across the state currently at 86% of their storage limits. The SEOC also noted that 146 reservoirs are on high alert, with an additional 11 on alert status. Gujarat has already received 124.66% of its average annual rainfall this season, with Kutch receiving an exceptional 183.34%.

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