JAMMU, April 22 -- Authorities on Tuesday opened the gates of the Salal hydroelectric power project dam to ease the heavy inflow of water into the Chenab river in the wake of continuous rains in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, officials said.

Locals have been asked to remain vigilant and keep away from the banks of the river.

"Due to the high inflow and increasing trend in the Chenab River, the gates of the Salal Dam have been opened as a precautionary safety measure," a senior National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) official said.

He said the discharge into the Chenab River is very high, causing the water level downstream of the Salal dam to rise.

"Due to this, it is not advisable for people, vehicles, livestock, and anim...