Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have issued flood warnings in low-lying areas along the banks of the Krishna river after the iron chain holding one of the gates of the Tungabhadra Dam was washed away early on Sunday.

The incident at 12.50am forced the dam management to open the other gates to let the water flow so as to reduce pressure on the structure.

Managed by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the dam has released 1 lakh cusecs of water until 2pm. The discharge will continue for a few days until the water levels are brought down below the gates to carry out the necessary repairs.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) manages gate Nos. 1 to 16, while Karnataka manages gate Nos. 17 to 32. Although it was gate No. 19 that got washed away after its chain snapped, the CWC has also sent its experts to assess the situation.

Karnataka deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar, who holds the water resources portfolio, urged people living downstream not to panic. “We have asked the people within a 2km radius to be alert and stay away from the rising water bodies,” Shivakumar told reporters at the dam. “This dam was built to irrigate 12 lakh acres of agricultural land and has always functioned very well. Ten gates were opened when gate 19 snapped at 12.50am.”

BJP MLA Basavaraj Bommai pointed fingers at the government. “The dam management committee makes recommendations each year on the maintenance of the dams.... I feel this happened because the state government failed to take them seriously,” he said.

The Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority has issued an alert to people living on the banks of the Krishna river. “People of the Kauthalam, Kosigi, Mantralayam and Nandavaram mandals of Kurnool district should be vigilant,” the authority warned.