Idukki: The water level in Mullaperiyar dam rose to 140 feet. Following this, the shutters of the dam will be opened in the next 24 hours, Tamil Nadu informed Kerala. The people dwelling on the banks of Periyar have been alerted ahead of this.
There was heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the dam since Saturday evening. As per the figures obtained since last night, over 4000 cubic feet water per hour flowed into the dam. When the water level touched 140 feet, Tamil Nadu warned Kerala.
The opening of dam shutters will be decided according to the rainfall in catchment areas. As per the figures till November 20, water storage in the dam can be upto 141 feet. It is learnt that the dam shutters will be opened shortly, if downpour continues. Meanwhile, the water level in Idukki dam rose to 2398.76 feet.
Heavy rains continued to lash southern Kerala for a second consecutive day on Sunday, leaving many areas of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram inundated, while some roads were also blocked in parts of Kollam district.
Strong westerly winds and a cyclonic circulation formed over the southeastern region of the Arabian sea that triggered the heavy rains. A red alert has been issued in Thiruvananthapuram district and the weathermen have predicted that rains will continue for two more days.
Besides Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, and Kasaragod districts are also expected to receive heavy rains. A high alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in many parts of these districts.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called upon people to remain cautious in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts and in high ranges of the state as well as in riversides and tourist destinations.
Due to the damage of the Marathoor bridge in Neyyattinkara, traffic was disrupted along the national highway to Kanyakumari from Thiruvananthapuram. The state has also opened relief camps at some areas of Thiruvananthapuram district as low-lying areas were waterlogged.
At Container road in Ernakulam, a truck driver was rescued after soil fell on the truck but he died on reaching the hospital. Incessant rains in Ernakulam district have led to several roads being blocked.
(With inputs from IANS)
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