Nanda Dam in northern India overflowing after 25 years, triggering celebrations and alerts
by Aditi VermaThe Nanda Dam in northern India’s Rajasthan has overflowed for the first time in 25 years, bringing a wave of celebration among local villagers who performed traditional rituals and music in honor of the event. Meanwhile, authorities have issued alerts due to the overflow of other nearby dams and the potential risk of flooding.
The incident took place at Raipur (Beyawar), which is in the Beawar subdivision of the Ajmer district on September 10.
Visuals showed a village, where a dam overflowed after many years, bringing immense joy to the villagers. People gathered together to celebrate this rare occasion, playing drums and dancing with great enthusiasm. The atmosphere was filled with happiness and excitement as the whole village came alive with the sounds of music and laughter. For the villagers, this was a momentous event, and they marked it with a vibrant celebration, expressing their joy and unity through traditional music and dance.
On Tuesday evening, the Nanda Dam in Raipur (Beyawar) experienced an overflow after 25 years, a rare and significant event that caused immense joy among residents. As the dam’s spillway began to run, villagers flocked to witness the spectacle, celebrating with traditional instruments such as drums and cymbals. Women sang festive songs, and a ceremonial puja was conducted to welcome the water.
The overflow of the Nanda Dam follows similar events at three other dams in the region: Jhilmil, Bhomada, and Looney. These dams have also been experiencing overflow, prompting the administration to issue alerts across the dam areas. The 27-foot capacity Nanda Dam had last overflowed in 1999.
Raghav Soni, Assistant Engineer of the Irrigation Department, stated that four major dams in the Raipur sub-district are currently overflowing. In addition to Nanda, the Looni Dam in Deepawas, the Jhilmil Dam in Biratia Khurd, and the Bhomada Dam in Kot Kirana are also affected. The overflow at the Bhomada and Looni Dams has been ongoing for about five days.
Due to the rising water levels, SDM Puran Kumar had issued an alert two days prior, advising residents to evacuate areas prone to flooding. Notices were also dispatched by the village panchayat to prevent any accidents or disasters in the flood-prone areas.