All 85 Gates Lifted at Medigadda Barrage After Inflows Reach One Lakh Cusecs

On Sunday, 5 July 2026, authorities lifted all 85 gates of the Medigadda Barrage on the Godavari River in Telangana after flood inflows surged to approximately one lakh cusecs. The sudden rise in water levels at the barrage, which is a key component of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, was triggered by heavy rainfall in upstream Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

Officials of the Major Irrigation Department reported that the water level at the barrage reached around 96 metres during the day. In response to the massive inflows, which are expected to increase further, the department opened all 85 gates to discharge the incoming water downstream.

The surge of water, primarily carried by the Pranahita River, represents the first major flood spell of the season. This comes during a period when Telangana has been experiencing below-normal rainfall due to El Nino conditions, leaving most other reservoirs in the state with negligible inflows.

In light of the rising water levels, authorities issued safety alerts to residents of low-lying villages along the Godavari River. Fishermen and local riverbank residents have been strongly advised against venturing into the swollen river.

The flood surge has also reignited a political debate over the utilisation of the Kaleshwaram project. Leaders of the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) argued that the heavy inflows at Medigadda, despite deficient rainfall elsewhere in the state, highlight the strategic value of the project's location.

During a visit to the Kannepalli pump house on Sunday, BRS Working President KT Rama Rao urged the government to lift the floodwaters to fill reservoirs and support local agriculture. He accused the government of failing to use the Kannepalli pumping system.

Conversely, the Congress-led state government defended the release of the water downstream. Government representatives stated that the discharge was necessary to protect the structural integrity of the Medigadda Barrage, in compliance with National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) guidelines.