Guwahati: The Assam Government has issued a clarification dismissing a viral advisory claiming that rising river levels in the state were caused by the opening of dam gates in Bhutan. Today, the clarification, shared by the Office of the Chief Secretary, urged the public to rely only on official information and refrain from circulating unverified reports.
The advisory, titled "Bhutan River: 3 Gates Opened", has been widely shared on social media, linking the current flood situation in Assam to alleged dam operations in Bhutan. However, Government in Bhutan have confirmed that the information is incorrect.
As per Bhutan's Hydrology Department, the recent rise in river water levels is solely due to heavy rainfall in the upstream catchment areas and not because of any sudden release of water from dams. It also clarified that the Kurichhu Hydropower Plant carried out a controlled reservoir-flushing operation on 21st July, as part of routine maintenance, with no emergency or unannounced water releases currently underway.
The Bhutanese government further stated that all major dam operations follow established early warning protocols, with downstream stakeholders informed well in advance. The flood control rooms of Assam and Bhutan remain in constant coordination, sharing real-time updates on rainfall, river levels and other developments. Government have appealed to citizens to ignore rumours and depend only on verified official sources for flood-related information.