Amaravathi dam nears full level, alert issued

Incessant rains increased the water level in the Amaravathi dam to 84 feet as against its full reservoir level of 90 feet. With the inflow expected to increase further, the dam may be opened anytime to discharge surplus water.

Water flow into the reservoir is from rivers such as Thennar, Pambar and Sithar, which confluence about four km upstream of Amaravathi dam. People living in low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer places.

The Forest department has also cautioned people against visiting the Amanalingeshwara temple and tourists were barred from bathing in Panchalinga river in Udumalpet.

As heavy rains continued to lash the Nilgiris and Valparai regions, schools and colleges in those areas declared a holiday on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Sholayar dam, which has a storage capacity of 160 feet, was opened for the second time within a week as it reached the maximum reservoir level. Though the dam reached its full reservoir level on July 1, it was opened on July 11 after the water level surged beyond the maximum point.

On Sunday midnight, the dam was opened again to release surplus water following a second spell of heavy rains in the catchment area.