Due to heavy rainfall and upstream runoff, water levels in rivers across the Rangamati district have surged, causing a sharp rise in Kaptai Lake. Although water has been released through the spillway gates of the Kaptai Dam since Tuesday night, the lake continues to swell.

In response to the growing pressure, the spillway gates were gradually opened—first by 6 inches, then by 1.5 feet, followed by 2.5 feet. Finally, at 11 pm on Wednesday (August 6), all the gates were opened by 3 feet.

According to the Karnafuli Hydropower Station, around 58,000 cusecs of water are currently being discharged through the dam’s spillway. An additional 32,000 cusecs is being released through the plant’s five active power-generating units, bringing the total outflow to 90,000 cusecs into the Karnaphuli River and eventually into the Bay of Bengal.

The authorities are operating all five units of the power station at full capacity to maximize electricity generation while water levels remain high. By Wednesday evening, power output ranged between 214 and 216 megawatts. As of 11pm, the water level in the lake stood at 108.79 feet MSL (mean sea level).

Assistant Engineer Tareq Ahmed of the hydropower station confirmed in a late-night message that the lake’s water level continued to rise. As a result, the spillway gates were opened by 3 feet from 11pm, releasing approximately 58,000 cusecs of water into the Karnaphuli River.