Chenab water flow restored within 20 hours after historic depletion caused by Baglihar and Salal Dam closure; locals view it as symbolic response to Pakistan post-Pahalgam terror attack.
In a first-of-its-kind incident, the Chenab River in Jammu’s Akhnoor nearly ran dry on Monday after the closure of the Baglihar and Salal dam gates by Indian authorities—an action widely perceived as a symbolic response to rising tensions with Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Videos and eyewitness accounts captured locals walking across the exposed riverbed, with water levels dropping to ankle depth—something never witnessed before. “In my 40 years, I’ve never seen the Chenab like this,” said Rajat Sharma, a local schoolteacher. Others, like Ravi Gupta and Ritu Sharma, expressed disbelief as people roamed the dry riverbed, with some even searching for precious metals.
The drop in water flow also caused the Ranbir Canal, crucial for Jammu’s agriculture, to run nearly dry by Monday morning, prompting large gatherings of onlookers at the Akhnoor banks. Police used loudspeakers to urge people to leave the riverbed due to expected upstream rainfall and a potential surge in water flow.
Within 18 to 20 hours, authorities began releasing water back into the Chenab, restoring normal levels by 1:30 PM and resuming canal flow by 7:45 PM. “Thankfully, no one was harmed. The river is unpredictable,” said the local SHO who managed the evacuation.
Locals and observers interpreted the drastic move as a powerful message to Pakistan, coming soon after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by the Indian government. “This was the boldest message we could send,” said retired Army officer Kalyan Singh. “If Pakistan supports terror, why should they receive our water?”
Veteran resident Pandit Mohan Lal, 75, supported the decision, calling national security paramount. Authorities have since stepped up river surveillance and urged the public to avoid gathering near the riverbed, stressing the dangers of sudden water surges.
While water flow has resumed, officials continue to monitor the situation amid unpredictable upstream conditions.
