India has begun sediment-flushing operations at two major hydroelectric dams in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir—Salal and Baglihar—following the recent suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, sources told Reuters. This development comes amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after a deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. India has implied cross-border involvement without offering evidence, while Pakistan has categorically denied the allegations and called for a neutral investigation.
According to three individuals familiar with the matter, India initiated a “reservoir flushing” process on May 1, which continued for three days. The operation, carried out by the state-run NHPC and local authorities, aimed to clear sediment build-up to improve efficiency and protect turbines from damage. The sources requested anonymity, citing restrictions on speaking to the media.
While the move may not immediately disrupt water supply to Pakistan—heavily reliant on the Indus River system for agriculture and energy—experts warn that similar efforts at other dam sites could eventually affect downstream flows. There are over half a dozen major hydropower projects in the region.
This is the first time such maintenance has been undertaken since the construction of the Salal dam in 1987 and the Baglihar dam in 2008–09. Under the IWT, such operations required prior notice and coordination with Pakistan. However, New Delhi proceeded without informing Islamabad, citing the treaty’s suspension as justification.
Residents living along the Chenab River confirmed observing sudden water releases from the dams between May 1 and May 3. The Press Trust of India also reported restricted water flow from the Baglihar dam, sharing a video via its X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to sources, the Salal and Baglihar projects have been underperforming due to sediment accumulation, which Pakistan previously prevented India from removing through flushing—arguing it could harm water flows downstream. “This flushing will free dam operations from treaty-imposed limitations,” one official told Reuters, noting the importance of such measures for long-term power generation.
Flushing involves nearly draining the reservoir to dislodge sediment—a practice often avoided due to water wastage and downstream flood risks. International water-sharing norms generally require advance warnings for such operations to avoid inundation in neighbouring regions.
India’s decision to suspend the treaty followed sharp remarks from its water resources minister, who pledged to stop “every drop” of Indus water from reaching Pakistan. This defiant stance marks a major policy shift in New Delhi, which has increasingly sought to revise or bypass the 1960 treaty that was brokered by the World Bank to divide the Indus River system between the two countries.
The treaty allows India limited rights to develop hydropower projects on rivers allocated to Pakistan, provided they do not include storage reservoirs. Disputes over this interpretation have led both sides to pursue arbitration in recent years—most notably over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants.
Commenting on India’s current position, Kushvinder Vohra, the recently retired chief of India’s Central Water Commission, said the suspension of the treaty allows India to “pursue our projects at free will.”
Although India’s unilateral moves are unlikely to cause immediate disruption, they signal a clear breakdown of cooperative water management and could have long-term implications for regional stability, especially if Pakistan views these actions as violations of international agreements.
India’s NHPC and local government authorities did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Pakistan, meanwhile, is expected to raise the issue at international forums, particularly the United Nations Security Council, where it is already seeking attention over India’s recent decisions and rhetoric.
