Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said the viral advisory was false, adding that Bhutan’s dam operations follow established protocols and no emergency water release is underway
Guwahati: The Assam government on Wednesday dismissed viral claims linking the state’s worsening flood situation to the opening of dam gates in Bhutan, clarifying that the recent rise in river levels was caused by heavy upstream rainfall, not by any emergency release of water.
In an official clarification, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said a widely circulated advisory titled “Bhutan River: 3 Gates Opened” was factually incorrect, citing information received from Bhutan’s Hydrology Department.
According to the clarification, the increased river discharge resulted from intense rainfall in upstream catchment areas and had no connection with sudden dam operations.
The Bhutanese authorities also informed Assam that the Kurichhu Hydropower Plant had carried out a routine reservoir-flushing operation on July 21 as part of scheduled maintenance, adding that no unannounced or emergency water release was currently underway.
Kota said all major dam operations in Bhutan follow established protocols, with downstream stakeholders informed in advance through official channels. He added that the flood control rooms of Assam and Bhutan remain in constant coordination, sharing real-time information on rainfall, river levels and other developments that may affect downstream areas.
The Assam government urged people to rely only on official updates and avoid sharing rumours or unverified social media posts, as authorities continue to monitor the flood situation across the state.
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