Flood fear mounts as Karnataka releases 1.65 lakh cusecs

Nearly 1.20 lakh cusecs was being released from KRS Reservoir in Mandya district on Tuesday afternoon as the inflow into the dam increased due to torrential rains in catchment areas. 

The discharge from the Kabini, which was scaled down to 45,000 cusecs from 80,000 cusecs on Monday, might be increased any time as the heavy inflow is expected to go up owing to torrential rains in Wayanad district in upper Kerala. 

Meanwhile, the discharge from Mettur dam, which continues to remain in its full reservoir capacity, was maintained at 88,518 cusecs. 

The inflow stood at 89,150 cusecs on Tuesday morning. With several rivers in spate following a heavy downpour, the sluice gates of six dams were opened in Nilgiris district, on Tuesday, resulting in flooding in downstream  areas. 

Many other major dams in the Western districts also filled up and surplus water was being discharged. The sluice gates of Kundah, Upper Bhavani, Avalanche, Pykara and Glenmorgan dams were lifted to discharge surplus considering their safety. 

Tangedco officials said that people living in downstream have been evacuated and have been asked to move to safer places. 

Mainly, villagers residing in Masinagudi, Moyar and Theppakadu areas have been advised to move away from the banks of Moyar River. The surplus water discharged from the Upper Bhavani and Avalanche has filled up Pillur dam near Mettupalayam. 

“As 20,000 cusecs was being discharged, the Bhavani is in spate,” said an official. 

Similarly, the Bhavani Sagar Dam in Erode district has reached its brim. In a statement, Erode district Collector S Prabhakar said that due to heavy rain, in catchment areas in Kerala and Nilgiris, the Bhavani Sagar dam has reached 100 feet as against it full reservoir level of 102 feet. 

The Aliyar dam in Pollachi has also reached 119 feet as against its full capacity of 120 feet resulting in stepping up of water discharge.