There was chaos downstream of the Mullaperiyar dam on Tuesday night following an alert that the dam shutters may be opened anytime after 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
People were asked to move to safer places through a loudspeaker announcement by the police at 7.30 p.m. Nobody was prepared to face a sudden movement from their houses as the water level went up quickly and the district administration made the announcement late in the evening.
V. Nazar, who runs a shop close to the Periyar at Chappathu on the Kattappana-Kottayam State Highway, said he was shell-shocked hearing the announcement. “Where to move at this night hour,” he asked. He has been living with his family there for years and ‘‘it is for the first time such an announcement has been made.’’
His wife said they were informed that a relief camp had been set up at a school at Karunthiri at 5 p.m. However, they preferred to stay at home.
Shaji Panniyammackel, vice chairman of the Mullaperiyar Samara Samiti, said the Periyar was already in spate and releasing more water would do much damage. He said he believed that water would not be released at night. “We are living in fear every monsoon,” he said adding that the situation was much grave now.
Siyad, who lives on the river bank at Parappu, said it would be a sleepless night. “Where could one go leaving behind valuables and cattle at the home at this hour.”
District Collector K. Jevan Babu said all arrangements were in place at all the relief camps and it was only a rare chance that the dam waters would be released at night.
He said the police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel were camping to monitor the situation and taking all precautionary measures.
