August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Authorities operating the Rawal Dam and the Khanpur Dam had to open the spillways of the reservoirs at the weekend after the water level reached the maximum mark, officials said.

Extra water in the Rawal Dam was discharged on Sunday after the inflow into the reservoir increased due to intermittent rains in the catchment areas.

Scores of people flocked to the dam in the afternoon to see the water gushing out of the spillways and many were seen descending down into the watercourse, with some trying to catch fish in the shallow water.

Khanpur Dam: The Khan-pur Dam operators also opened the spillways for around six hours on Saturday, as water in the reservoir reached maximum level.

Talking to Dawn, Khanpur Dam Project executive engineer Asim Saeed said due to monsoon rains in the catchment areas of Khanpur Dam, the water level in the reservoir reached 1,980-foot mark, just two feet below the maximum storage capacity.