Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Srisailam Dam Gates Stay Shut Amid Severe Monsoon Inflow Deficit
The Srisailam reservoir has not received enough rainwater this monsoon.
Its gates usually open several times by the middle of August, but they remain closed.
The reservoir contains only 41.51 TMC ft of water, compared with space for 215.81 TMC ft.
Last year at the same time, it held 209.16 TMC ft.
Kurnool and areas upstream in Karnataka and Maharashtra have received much less rain than usual.
This has reduced water flowing through the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.
Other nearby reservoirs are also holding much less water than their full capacities.
Officials say more rain is needed to protect farming, drinking-water supplies, and electricity generation.
Srisailam reservoir gates remain closed into the fourth week of August.
The reservoir holds 41.51 TMC ft against a 215.81 TMC ft capacity.
Water levels are 820.90 feet, well below the 885-foot full level.
Kurnool received under 30 mm of rain since July 1, versus 117.23 mm normally.
Officials warn of strains on agriculture, drinking water, and hydropower without renewed monsoon rainfall.
- Who
- Srisailam reservoir authorities, irrigation officials, and water resources experts are involved.
- What
- Srisailam Dam’s spillway gates remain shut because inflows are severely below normal.
- When
- Into the fourth week of August; figures cited are as of Wednesday.
- Where
- At the Srisailam reservoir in Kurnool, with upstream catchments in Karnataka and Maharashtra also affected.
- Why
- Dry local and upper-catchment conditions have sharply reduced rainfall, runoff, and river inflows.
- Srisailam storage
- 41.51 TMC ft
- Srisailam capacity
- 215.81 TMC ft
- Srisailam water level
- 820.90 feet, compared with a full reservoir level of 885 feet
- Previous-year storage
- 209.16 TMC ft during the corresponding period last year
- Kurnool rainfall
- Under 30 mm since July 1, versus a seasonal normal of 117.23 mm
- Nagarjuna Sagar storage
- 137.34 TMC ft against a capacity of 312.05 TMC ft
- Tungabhadra storage
- 28 TMC ft against a capacity of 105.79 TMC ft
- Combined storage
- 33.55 percent of total capacity across Andhra Pradesh and the Tungabhadra system