Pocharam dam withstands worst flood in 100 years

The century-old Pocharam dam on the Medak–Kamareddy border withstood record inflows of 1.82 lakh cusecs, more than double its flood discharge capacity. Though the dam held firm, parts of the bridge were damaged as authorities shifted villagers to safety.

Medak: Pocharam dam on the Medak-Kamareddy border has withstood an unprecedented flood in its century-old history, recording inflows of 1.82 lakh cusecs against its maximum flood discharge capacity of 70,000 cusecs.

Built across the Alair stream, a tributary of the Manjeera river, the project was constructed by the Nizam between 1915 and 1922. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, in a social media post on Thursday, said the department had spent sleepless nights as the dam faced the highest-ever inflows.

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“After the tense moments yesterday, it was a great relief for me and my irrigation colleagues to see the project standing strong,” the Minister wrote.

For the first time in its 103-year history, water flowed more than three feet over the weirs. Though the structure suffered no breach, parts of the bridge on the Kamareddy side were damaged as earthen sections eroded.

With water still overflowing, irrigation authorities have kept a close watch and said a detailed inspection would be carried out once the flood recedes to assess the extent of damage.

Meanwhile, local officials shifted Sardhana villagers living along the Alair course to a Rythu Vedika and placed surrounding habitations on high alert.