Safety advisory issued ahead of water release from Larji Dam

Authorities have issued a public safety advisory following a planned release of water from the Larji Hydro Electric Project (HEP) today, which has a capacity of 126 MW. Due to a significant rise in the discharge levels of the Beas and its tributaries, the dam will release excess water to manage the flow and maintain operational safety.

The water release is expected to cause a sudden surge in river levels downstream in Mandi district, posing a potential risk to anyone near the riverbanks. As a precautionary measure, the project authorities and district administration have advised residents, commuters and tourists to avoid going near the river, especially in areas close to the Larji Dam and adjoining tributaries in the next 24 hours.

Officials from the dam management and district administration have reiterated that this is a routine operation during the monsoon and post-monsoon periods, when river discharge tends to increase significantly. However, they have stressed the importance of public cooperation to avoid any untoward incidents.