An almost century-old dam completely full, with enormous quantities of water cascading down the face of the structure. Images of the Bhatghar Dam, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, are circulating on social media along with alarmist messages about the conditions of the plant.
What is certain is that Bhatghar has reached 100% capacity and is discharging water, so much so that the authorities have asked the inhabitants of the areas crossed by the Nira river to be cautious. With discharges from the Nira system’s dams increasing, local authorities have asked residents of the most exposed areas to exercise caution. Just in 2026, Bhatghar was included in a new structural assessment program.
Bhatghar Dam is one of the major historic water infrastructures of Maharashtra. The Central Water Commission’s National Register of Large Dams lists 1927 as the year the structure was completed. The dam is classified as a masonry gravity structure, approximately 1,625 meters long and 57.92 meters high.