Chennai: A flood alert has been declared in the Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamil Nadu, where the Thenpennai River flows, following heavy rains in the river's catchment areas. Local authorities have issued the alert to warn residents.
Due to the heavy rainfall affecting the Krishnagiri Reservoir Project (KRP) dam, 2,000 cusecs of water have been released from the dam, leading to additional flood warnings for the Harur and Pappireddipatti areas.
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Fire and Rescue Services, along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), are on standby to assist if needed. Continuous rainfall in the catchment areas has caused a considerable increase in water levels at the KRP dam.
Dharmapuri District Collector K. Santhi has cautioned people to stay away from the banks of the Thenpennai River due to the water release. Revenue officials in Dharmapuri reported that water inflow levels have been rising since Monday. After the release of 2,000 cusecs of water on Wednesday night, water levels along the river banks have increased, with forecasts suggesting inflow levels could reach about 2,500 cusecs.
Officials have been announcing warnings in villages near the Thenpennai River, advising residents to keep their distance from the river and its banks. The weather department has indicated that rain is expected to shift to northern districts, including Ranipet and Vellore, by the evening, with winds potentially reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h over the southwest and adjacent west-central Bay of Bengal.
The SDRF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on standby at 26 locations in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvallur districts. The Tamil Nadu government has reported that 219 boats are ready for deployment for rain-related emergencies in Chennai and other regions.
The northeast monsoon is anticipated to begin in Tamil Nadu on October 20, five days earlier than usual. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has noted that a low-pressure area has developed into a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, currently about 490 km southeast of Chennai. It is expected to make landfall between Puducherry and Nellore, near Chennai, on Thursday.
Agency
Published: 18 Oct 2024, 11:07 am IST
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