Kerala Rains: IMD issues orange alert in five districts; dam shutters opened as water levels rise
Heavy rains continue to soak Kerala, with the IMD issuing an orange alert for five districts: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, and Wayanad. Extremely heavy rain of the order of 11 cm to 20 cm in the next 24 hours is expected in these regions. Due to heavy rainfall, river levels have gone up, water-logging has occurred in low-lying areas, and several families have been relocated in the State.
With the rise in water level, dam shutters are being opened to regulate the inflow. On Saturday morning, the shutter gates of the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad and Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta were opened. In Thrissur, the shutters of the Peechi dam are scheduled for opening in the afternoon to prevent another overflow.
Palakkad is also on high alert, with the shutters of Kanjirapuzha, Malampuzha, and Meenkara dams already opened due to catchment area rainfall. In Idukki, all eyes are on the Mullaperiyar dam. The water level touched 135.70 feet at 10 am—just short of the 136-feet threshold that would trigger the opening of its shutters, as PTI reported.
What makes this dam unique—and often controversial—is that although it’s located in Kerala, it’s operated by Tamil Nadu under a 999-year-old lease signed back in 1886. Kerala has long voiced concerns about safety risks, especially during heavy rains, while Tamil Nadu continues to rely on it for irrigation.
Weather Update: IMD issues heavy rain alerts for several states; check out full details
Taking no chances, the Idukki district administration has made arrangements to evacuate over 3,200 people from flood-prone areas. Villages like Periyar, Manjumala, Elappara, and Upputhura are on the list, with temporary shelters and emergency support being set up.
As the rains continue, officials are urging residents to stay alert and cooperate with evacuation and safety efforts to avoid any crisis.
