The Pampa breached its banks at 9.30 a.m. on Friday following torrential rain for over 36 hours.
The vehicle parking area at Pampa-Triveni was flooded by 10 a.m. All the vehicles were removed on the directive of the police before the floodwaters entered the area.
The Devaswom authorities and the police have restrained pilgrims from taking the customary holy dip in the Pampa due to the strong water currents.
Pilgrims were seen taking a bath on the river banks by pouring floodwater using small vessels.
Rope along riverbank The police have put up a rope along the river banks for the safety of pilgrims wading through the floodwaters on the Pampa Manalpuram.
Devotees, including elderly women and children, trekked the hills braving the downpour.
The ceremonial procession carrying the Brahmakalasom of the Laksharchana and Kalabhabhishekom was held in the rain.
Maniyar dam District Collector S. Harikishore said the water level in the Maniyar barrage of the Pampa Irrigation Project had risen considerably on Friday evening due to heavy inflow from its upper reaches. He cautioned the people residing on the banks of the Pampa of possible release of water from the barrage at night, if the heavy inflow continued.
Control rooms The district administration opened control rooms at the Collectorate and taluk offices on Friday. The phone numbers of the control rooms are: Collectorate: 0469-2222515, Adoor: 04734-224826, Ranni: 04735-227442, Thiruvalla: 0469-2601303, Mallappaly: 0469-2682293, Kozhencherry: 0468-2222221, and Konni: 0468-2240087.
