Heavy Rain Lashes Kerala, Shutters Opened at Mullaperiyar Dam

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains lashed several parts of Kerala on Saturday, causing inundation of low-lying areas and prompted the opening of shutters at the Mullaperiyar Dam in Idukki district to manage reservoir levels.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts light to moderate rain or thundershowers across the state over the next seven days, with isolated very heavy rainfall expected especially on October 18 and 19. An orange alert — signalling very heavy rainfall of around 11-20 cm in 24 hours — has been issued for Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Kottayam districts. A similar alert is in place for Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram on Sunday.
In Idukki’s high-range areas, including Kumily, Nedumkandam and Kattappana, water entered houses Friday night, leading authorities to evacuate around 45 families on Saturday. In Nedumkandam, rising levels of the Kootar River swept away a parked van. Also, high-range areas of Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode districts witnessed heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding of roads.
Because of sustained rainfall, water levels in the Mullaperiyar Dam rose above the permissible threshold of 137 ft, reaching 138.80 ft, prompting the opening of all 13 shutters by 1 pm and the discharge of 7,163 cusecs of water. Meanwhile, the Kallarkutty Dam shutters were raised, releasing about 500 cusecs, and four shutters of the Kallar Dam were opened (by 60 cm) to release 1,063 cusecs. Authorities are alerting residents along the banks of the Kallar and Chinnar rivers about the potential for flooding.
In the state’s largest reservoir, the Idukki Reservoir, the water level stood at 2,381.92 ft with 75.80 % live storage as of 7 am Saturday; all shutters of that dam remain closed.
Fishermen along the coasts of Kerala, Lakshadweep and Karnataka have been advised not to venture into the sea until October 22 because of expected strong winds (35–45 km/h, gusting up to 55 km/h). The IMD also noted that a low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep region is expected to intensify into a depression within the next 36 hours, contributing to unsettled weather.
Residents in flood‐prone and landslide‐vulnerable zones are urged to stay alert and heed instructions from district authorities.