Kannur: Rising water level of Valapattanam river following heavy downpour and landslips has wrought havoc among people living downstream of the Pazhassi dam here as the river is reoprtedly flowing over the top of the dam.
The government has so far been able to open only eight sluice gates out of 16. It is reportedly considering measures including blasting of the sluice gates which have failed to open.
A Central Disaster Management team is rushing to Kerala by air to take emergency measures. People living downstream of the dam have been asked to move to safer places.
Minister for Water Resources P J Joseph sought the help of Defence Minister A. K. Antony for air-lifting of a team of experts capable of handling the situation. They would decide whether blasting of the spillways would have to be done if the shutters could not be opened.
The spillways were under repair and five gates could not be opened as the water level rose following heavy downpour and landslips.