Chandigarh: Sukhna Lake floodgate closed after water level recedes

The department had also conducted a trial run of the floodgates on June 28 to check operational readiness

By: Express News Service
Chandigarh | August 9, 2025 23:28 IST

The UT engineering department has deployed staff round the clock at the regulator end of the lake, equipped with CCTV surveillance to track water levels in real time (Archive)

The Chandigarh Administration Saturday closed the floodgate at Sukhna Lake early morning after water levels receded.

The gate, opened at 7.30 pm on Friday to release excess water, was shut around 4 am on Saturday once the lake’s level dropped from near the danger mark of 1,163 feet to 1,162.10 feet by evening. The precautionary measure came after the water had surged close to the red line late Friday.

This was the second such operation in recent days. On August 6, the floodgate was opened at 11 am and kept open for 12 hours before being closed at 11 pm on same day to discharge water into the Ghaggar river via the Sukhna Choe.

The UT engineering department has deployed staff round the clock at the regulator end of the lake, equipped with CCTV surveillance to track water levels in real time. A dedicated control room is coordinating with the district administrations of Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula to ensure timely alerts during floodgate operations.

Officials said neighbouring districts were informed in advance before Friday’s release. The department had also conducted a trial run of the floodgates on June 28 to check operational readiness.

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