Heavy Rains Lash Kerala; Orange Alert in Five Districts, Dam Shutters Opened

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains continue to batter Kerala, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert in five districts, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad, for the day. An orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 to 20 cm.

The intense rains over the past few days have caused river water levels to rise, triggering flooding in low-lying regions and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. Several dams across the state have been opened to manage the excess inflow.

In Wayanad, the shutters of the Banasura Sagar dam were opened, while in Pathanamthitta, the Moozhiyar dam released water. In Thrissur, the shutters of the Peechi dam are expected to be opened Saturday afternoon, according to an official statement.

Palakkad district witnessed the opening of shutters at Kanjirapuzha, Malampuzha, and Meenkara dams following increased water levels in their catchment areas.

Meanwhile, in Idukki, authorities are closely monitoring the Mullaperiyar dam, where the water level reached 135.70 feet by 10 am on Saturday. Tamil Nadu officials had earlier indicated that the shutters might be opened if the level touches 136 feet. In preparation, the Idukki district administration has made arrangements to evacuate 3,220 people from 883 families in low-lying areas, including villages such as Periyar, Manjumala, Upputhura, Elappara, Ayyappankovil, Kanchiyar, Aanavilasam, and Udumbanchola.

Though located in Kerala, the Mullaperiyar dam is controlled and operated by Tamil Nadu under a 999 -year lease agreement dating back to 1886. The dam continues to be a point of contention between the two states, Kerala citing safety concerns due to its age, and Tamil Nadu stressing the importance of full control to meet its irrigation needs.