A few villages located on both sides of the surplus weir of Kunderipallam reservoir, near Gobichettipalayam, and the banks of Bhavani River were flooded after the dam surplussed on Saturday night.
The reservoir, which has a storage capacity of 108.27 mcft, reached its full level following heavy rains in Gobichettipalayam and Sathyamangalam blocks.
The dam's catchment areas including Vilangombai, Kundri, Malligai Thuruvam and Inji Kidangu witnessed heavy showers on Saturday.
Full level
Public Works Department officials said that the dam reached its full level at 11 p.m. and started overflowing.
The inflow stood at 15,000 cusecs at 11 p.m. and a total of 14,995 cusecs was let off into the surplus weir.
A few villages located on both sides of the surplus course were flooded. People in these villages were evacuated and sheltered at government schools.
The district administration issued flood alerts and began evacuating people from the flood-prone areas.
Meanwhile, persons affected in the flash floods blocked traffic on the Gobichettipalayam – Sathyamangalam road demanding compensation.
Crops damaged
Officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators.
Heavy rains also damaged crops in many parts of Gobichettipalayam, Chithode and Kodivery. Elanthakuttai Medu and Kodivery dam recorded a maximum rainfall of 90 mm followed by Gobichettipalayam (75.8 mm) and Olavampalayam (60 mm).