Heavy downpour continues in Kerala; 6 dams brim to red alert
text_fields
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala continues to receive heavy rains, and several dams, including Mullaperiyar and Idukki, are inching brim, with some already reaching red alert status on Sunday, PTI reported.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) informed that six dams under the control of KSEB reached red alert levels, four of which are located in Idukki.
The red alert flagged dams as of 11:00 am Sunday are Ponmudi, Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Lower Periyar in Idukki, Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta districts.
However, as of 12:00 pm, levels in Mullaperiyar were holding steady at 135.7 feet after rainfall reduced in the area in the last few hours. Here no alerts have been issued, according to an official from the control room set up in Idukki.
He also said that there is a slight increase in water levels in the Idukki dam, but due to the stoppage of rain for a few hours, there is no situation of concern at the moment.
On Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert in nine districts out of 14.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said on Saturday that rain is to continue for another five days, and people must exercise caution, particularly those living in hilly areas.
Authorities had sounded alerts to people residing on banks of various rivers where water levels were rising due to heavy rainfall in the state.
The continuous downpour in the state had created destruction in several areas, including floods, while people were evacuated to rescue shelters. Many houses in the coastal belt of the state were partially damaged by the gusty winds and massive rains there.