Dhaka, Sept. 10 -- The Kaptai Hydropower Plant authorities have opened 16 spillway gates of the dam to discharge excess water into the Karnaphuli River, following a sharp rise in Kaptai Lake's water level caused by upstream hill runoff.

Engineer Mahmud Hasan, Manager of the Hydropower Plant, said that the gates were opened at 3:00 am, each lifted by three and a half feet.

Approximately 63,000 cusecs of water per second is now being released into the river, he added.

Mahmud Hasan said the water level of Kaptai Lake was recorded at 108.90 feet mean sea level at 8:00 am, while the reservoir's maximum holding capacity is 109 feet mean sea level, reports BSS.

He went on, saying water is being discharged to keep the level from exceeding the...