Kuntala, Pochera Waterfalls Run Dry Amid Heatwave
29 April 2026 11:10 PM IST29 April 2026 11:10 PM IST
Streams and rivulets feeding the waterfalls have dried up earlier than usual this year
Temperatures in the region touched 46°C, leading to a drinking water shortage in tribal areas.
Adilabad: Waterfalls in the erstwhile Adilabad district have dried up following sustained high temperatures, with no water flow reported at Kuntala Waterfall and Pochera Waterfall.
Streams and rivulets feeding the waterfalls have dried up earlier than usual this year. Temperatures in the region touched 46°C, leading to a drinking water shortage in tribal areas.
Officials and residents said water flow into the waterfalls, which typically declines from March, ceased much earlier this season due to the heat.
Naresh, a resident of Boath, said check dams constructed on the Peddavagu rivulet upstream have restricted downstream flow. He said that in earlier years, water would continue to reach Pochera waterfall even during summer.
He added that three check dams on the Peddavagu and another on the Karatwada project have limited water flow downstream. According to him, the waterfalls are now likely to receive water only after the onset of rains in August. He attributed the early drying to high temperatures and heatwave conditions linked to the El Niño effect.
Naresh said that in previous years, some water flow was seen at Kuntala and Pochera till May, but both have gone dry earlier this season.
With no water flow, the tourist locations have seen a drop in visitors over the past few days. The Kupti river, which feeds Kuntala waterfall, flows further downstream into the Kadam irrigation project.
Several areas in Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Adilabad districts are facing drinking water shortages as streams and rivulets have dried up and groundwater levels have declined. Many borewells have gone dry, prompting gram panchayats to dig new borewells to meet drinking water needs.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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