The Idukki district administration has issued an alert with the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam crossing 140 ft on Friday evening.
The administration opened 24-hour control rooms at Peerumade, Udumbanchola, and Thodupuzha taluks in addition to the one at the Collectorate at Painavu.
Additional District Magistrate V.R. Mohanan Pillai, holding charge of the District Collector, held a meeting at Peerumade to review the situation. The District Collector of Theni in Tamil Nadu was asked to alert the district administration six hours in advance of the water level reaching 142 ft.
Mr. Pillai told The Hindu that a 2,000-member disaster management council was put on alert and a police force of 200 personnel under the Kattappana Dy.SP would be on duty to manage any crisis. He said the disaster management team was on full alert and a first warning had already been issued to those living downstream of the dam. A second warning would be issued after the water level crossed 140 ft and the third one prior to the release of water at 142 ft.
The water level in the dam rose considerably on Friday after heavy rainfall in the catchment area on Thursday night. There was 16 mm rainfall in the catchment area and Tamil Nadu was drawing water at 456 cft per second.
