Kumily: An elephant fell into the canal that channels water from the Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala to Tamil Nadu at the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning, saw the elephant being swept along the canal's strong currents, eventually coming to rest on a grill approximately 100 metres from the dam's shutter. 

Forest guards were the first to spot the distressed elephant, which had been caught in the grill. Footage of the elephant struggling in the canal waters has surfaced online. 

With 120 cubic feet of water per second being transported to Tamil Nadu through the canal and strong currents, the elephant struggled to get ashore. The water flow was temporarily reduced and the elephant managed to swim to safety.

From the grill where the elephant was stuck, water is transported to Tamil Nadu through a tunnel extending to the Kerala border. It is believed that the female elephant, which had been in the area the previous night, accidentally fell into the canal. 

The Mullaperiyar Dam, located in Kerala and operated by the Tamil Nadu government, has been a focal point of contention and debate due to concerns over its safety and water-sharing agreements. Built across the Periyar River, it stands as a crucial structure for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation in Tamil Nadu but has raised apprehensions among residents of Kerala, fearing its potential collapse and the resultant catastrophic flooding downstream. Legal battles and political negotiations continue over the management and regulation of the dam, reflecting ongoing tensions between the two states over water resources and safety assurances.